Australian Vodka Contains Paint Stripper Ingredient

A bottle of vodka purchased from a licensed IGA retailer in Australia was found to contain tert-butyl alcohol, a key ingredient in paint stripper, according to laboratory tests. ABC News reported that the Dirty George vodka contained approximately 500 milligrams per litre of tert-butyl alcohol, an ingredient typically found in industrial cleaners and not intended for human consumption.

In addition to tert-butyl alcohol, the same sample also contained about 3% glycerine, which can be added as a sweetener or masking agent. Michala Kowalski from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre described the findings as "quite terrifying," suggesting that a distiller likely used industrial alcohol, repackaged it, and sold it on the market.

Health experts have expressed significant concern over contaminated alcohol. Eric Hadinata, an addiction medicine specialist, noted that animal studies on high doses of tert-butyl alcohol have shown abnormal movements, kidney and bladder issues, and over time, kidney and thyroid cancers. Kowalski's team, investigating the illicit alcohol market, found that 30% of the stores they audited were stocking illicit alcohol products.

Metcash, the owner of IGA, stated it is investigating the matter and believes the store was unaware the product might have been illicit. Steve James, director of Tuscani Beverages, the company behind the Dirty George vodka label, claimed someone else was producing counterfeit products under their brand and that their genuine products are manufactured in a licensed facility. Kowalski indicated that the Dirty George brand had been flagged as potentially illicit due to its price point, bottle shape, packaging, and missing information.