Warnings have been issued to the public after a spirit with an alcohol volume of 95 per cent was put on sale in shops in Powys.

Powys Council has warned that there may be inadequate labelling on batches of rectified spirit, or Spirytus, which have been on sale, and which may confuse buyers when stocked in shops' alcohol sections.

The council's trading standards team has warned that people should not drink such spirits neat.

It has also warned that the alcohol is not an effective disinfectant, which is also part of the marketing.

Cllr James Evans, cabinet member for trading standards, said: “It is not acceptable for consumers to be offered food products without clear labelling and instructions. To claim that the product is suitable for disinfectant is also incorrect.

“Our trading standards officers work with partners to enforce strict legislations which ensures such products are labelled with clear instructions for use and meet safety standards.”

Clive Jones, the council’s professional lead for trading standards, community safety and emergency planning, said: “We are aware that these products maybe on sale in some shops in Powys and we want to make unsuspecting customers aware at the earliest opportunity about this issue.

“An ABV of 95 per cent is simply too strong an alcohol to be drunk neat as a shot drink. We suspect the product may not have adequate labelling, for example, not having instructions for use in English, and therefore poses a hazard to people who consume it neat.

“Most spirit drinks are around the 40 per cent abv mark, so this is more than double the strength of regular spirits. We don’t want people to misuse the product thereby posing a risk to their health and possibly their lives. To furthermore claim that the product is suitable as a disinfectant adds further confusion and risk to potential buyers.”