BUYING your favourite tipple could be fraught with pitfalls, as bootleggers substitute popular branded products for cheaper versions.

Trading standards bosses at North Yorkshire County Council say that over the past year, they have discovered a number of pubs putting bootlegged whisky, vodka and rum in popular branded bottles.

A licensee in Malton was fined £1,500 and £500 costs for substituting Smirnoff Vodka and Gordons London Gin.

In some cases, pubs have been found to have watered down the spirits. In one case in the Richmond area, trading standards officers found eleven bottles of spirits had been watered down, some by as much as 25 per cent. In this case, the fine and costs totalled £7,800.

Several other licensees have received formal cautions for substituting main branded spirits. Stuart Pudney, head of North Yorkshire Trading Standards and regulatory services, said: "The favourites for substitution seem to be Bells Whisky, Gordon's London Gin, Bacardi Rum and Smirnoff Vodka.

"Customers pay a premium price for these branded products and are entitled to get what they order."

He warned publicans that, if caught, they risked being prosecuted, which could jeopardise the renewal of their licence in future years.

Officers are also remaining vigilant for evidence of counterfeit spirits, discovering several cases of this across the county this year, including one where the spirit concerned contained industrial alcohol.

They are warning publicans to be aware of this practice and that the contents could be dangerous to drinkers.

The department has also made at least two seizures of fake branded champagne.