How to distinguish burnt (fake) vodka from the real one? How to check if vodka is singed or not? Vodka without a dispenser is bad or not.

Which is now widely distributed in the Russian market.

In order not to become a victim of counterfeiting and avoid the sad consequences of using a substitute, it is important to carefully choose a strong liquor and check if it is a "palen".

What is a pallet

First of all, it is necessary to find out what “singed” alcohol is. This name is understood as counterfeit alcohol of poor quality. Surrogate vodka is produced in clandestine factories that do not have a license for this type of activity.

People involved in the preparation of counterfeit alcoholic beverages do not follow either the recipe or the process technology. They use cheap hazardous materials to keep the cost of the product as low as possible and increase their profits.

The most popular, simple and inexpensive way to produce a counterfeit is to replace high-quality ethyl alcohol with methanol or other technical alcohol that is unsuitable for ingestion.

Another method is the use of low-grade ethanol, from which severe intoxication quickly sets in and after a few hours severe intoxication of the body develops.

Also, vodka is considered “burnt”, which contains. These substances are formed in the drink when the technology for preparing alcohol is not followed and the cleaning is not sufficiently thorough.

Another version of the "palenki" is vodka, heavily diluted with water. It is less hazardous to health than drinks prepared in the above ways, however, it is also considered counterfeit, because it does not meet quality standards and is always produced in underground organizations that violate the law. Officially licensed distilleries do not produce such drinks.

How to identify burnt vodka

There are several ways to identify burnt vodka. First of all, you should pay attention to the appearance, taste and smell of the drink. Often counterfeit has a sharp repulsive smell and an unpleasant taste, which is why vodka is drunk with great difficulty. It can also be less strong, which is always felt when using a surrogate.

Many counterfeit types of this strong alcohol have a very different consistency from the original. Such drinks may be cloudy or have a slight yellow tint, which indicates the presence of harmful impurities in the alcohol-containing liquid. A characteristic sign of a fake is the formation of sediment and small foreign particles inside the bottle.

If, after drinking even a small amount of vodka, severe intoxication quickly sets in, and the next day it is severe, this means that the drink turned out to be of poor quality. It is highly likely that it contains fusel oils or low-grade ethanol.

Palenki signs to look out for in the store

You can recognize a fake even at the stage of buying a product, if you responsibly approach the choice of a drink. When purchasing vodka in a store, you should pay attention to the following signs of falsification of strong alcohol:

1. Label. On a counterfeit product, the label is often attached crookedly, traces of glue are visible on the bottle. The strips of adhesive under the paper base are unevenly applied to the glass, which is easily visible through the liquid.
2. Cork. On fake vodka, the cork does not fit snugly against the bottle, allowing alcohol to pass through and scrolling.
3. Price. High-quality alcohol cannot be cheap. If vodka is sold in one of the stores much cheaper than the same drink in other outlets, then it is likely that this is a fake.
4. Excise stamps on "singed" vodka are most often pale and indistinct, the golden stripe is drawn on them, and not made by a separate element, the hologram shines, but does not shimmer.
5. Labels on the bottle. If the date and time of filling on the label do not match the information on the cork, this indicates a fake product.
6. Engraving. This sign will be noticed only by those who prefer to constantly purchase the same brand of vodka. Some large factories make convex engravings on bottles with various information about the drink and the manufacturer. It is impossible to forge an engraving on glass, because this requires special equipment. If there are no familiar inscriptions on the bottle of a well-known drink, this indicates falsification.

home check

Counterfeit vodka and a high-quality original product can be distinguished at home using one or more proven folk methods:

1. Ignite. It is necessary to pour the drink into a wide low container (metal lid, spoon) and set it on fire. If the liquid ignites smoothly and burns with a small blue flame, there is no doubt about the high quality of alcohol. The absence of fire indicates the dilution of alcohol with water or the presence of fusel oils. A green flame is a sign of the use of methyl alcohol in the production of the drink.
2. Freezing. High-quality vodka never completely freezes, turning into a piece of ice. It only becomes thicker and more viscous. A fake made in an artisanal way in violation of all the rules will quickly turn into ice.
3. Weighing. The weight of 1 liter of vodka (excluding containers) should be 953 g (an error of 2 g is allowed). If this figure differs significantly up or down, this may mean that the alcohol is diluted with water or has a lot of impurities in its composition.
4. Copper wire test. A bar of copper must be strongly heated and immediately lowered into a container of vodka. If a strong smell of formalin immediately appears, this means that methyl alcohol is present in the drink.
5. Testing with litmus paper. If you dip the reagent strip into fake vodka, the paper will turn red. Upon contact with high-quality alcohol, the color of the strip will remain unchanged.
6. Dissolution of potassium permanganate. It is necessary to pour a small amount of vodka into a glass and try to dissolve a few crystals of potassium permanganate in it. In a good quality product, potassium permanganate is diluted poorly and slowly, and in a counterfeit it dissolves almost immediately.

The consequences of drinking burned vodka

Fake vodka is extremely dangerous for the body. This is a poisonous substance that causes severe poisoning and disrupts the functioning of internal organs. Especially harmful is alcohol, which includes methyl alcohol. Methanol destroys the nervous system, can cause disability and death.

Fusel oils contained in low-quality vodka affect the liver, kidneys and brain and can lead to numerous abnormalities in the functioning of these organs. Long-term use of large doses of counterfeit provokes kidney and liver failure, causes failure of the digestive system and can also cause death.

Vodka is alcohol mixed with water. The main thing is that the quality of this alcohol and water is good. If vodka is suspiciously cheap, then this is a clear sign that the vodka is fake. If you buy expensive vodka in normal stores, then it is unlikely to be fake, as manufacturers value their reputation.

It is necessary to press the bottom of the bottle to the palm of your hand and twist. If a black mark remains, then it’s real, if not, then it’s a pallet. And this black trace is left by a conveyor belt that carries bottles to various authorities: pour vodka, stick a label, etc.

You can distinguish vodka by appearance if the label is glued crookedly, the adhesive strips are not even, if the manufacturer and date of bottling are not indicated on the label. If you turn the bottle of vodka over and shake it and there are large bubbles, then this is an indicator of a large amount of water in it.

I think no matter what. In Ukraine, there are no such checks that Hongweibing writes about, or they are meaningless, like everything merciless. Whatever the excise stamps. Since any vodka is water, alcohol, impurities, any bottle can be made, as well as a label. I had a chance to try from a special store with an excise tax, almost with UV protection. The content is nothing but acetone, it only smells nicer, And the quality of the fake and the original can still compete. Therefore, it is better to just remember where you got that bottle from which the head is light. And take it there, without thinking about the legality of its production. True, the supplier may change, or his priorities, and then flour is guaranteed.

Any vodka is diluted rectified alcohol. They are no different - palenka and original. The difference is in price and taste sensation, which is determined by additives and water quality. The main thing is not to get on technical alcohol.

To begin with, carefully inspect the bottle: does the cap sit tightly, if it scrolls or flows - you hardly bought high-quality vodka, check if there is a safety ring on the screw cap. There should be no sediment at the bottom of the bottle. The color of vodka is crystal clear. The label should sit firmly and straight, without breaks. In order to check vodka for quality, you need to mix vodka and sulfuric acid in equal proportions, if the resulting liquid darkens, the vodka is of poor quality. Read more about the difference between real and burnt vodka below.

Also, how to distinguish real vodka, wine, whiskey, tequila, cognac from a fake is written in this question: How to distinguish real alcohol from a fake?

Try to buy vodka, on the bottle of which (at the top or bottom), in addition to the pasted label, there is also an embossed inscription on the glass (here, a picture is embossed on the glass above the label - an ear)

- they are not made during the production of the bottle itself at the factory. Manufacturers of fake vodka do not make such bottles.

I don’t know how it is in other regions of the Russian Federation, but in Tatarstan it recently existed and maybe still exists (has not used it for a year) SMS service where you can check alcoholic beverages by excise stamp number for 5 rubles. According to the sent SMS with the number, a response SMS is received in which it is indicated what kind of drink it is and what strength. If the info of the SMS does not match the info of the bottle, then alcohol should not be taken, since at best it was brought into Tatarstan illegally.

Well, when choosing vodka, you need to remember a few elementary things

• a bottle of vodka cannot cost less than 100 rubles.
• of course, when the bottle is shaken in a spiral, a snake from small bubbles
• 1 liter of vodka weighs exactly 953 grams, which means that half a liter is 476 grams.
• vodka has a specific vodka smell and should not smell like acetone or anything else.
• 40 degree vodka burns with a weak blue flame, if it does not burn or flashes, then it is better not to drink it.
• if when freezing vodka at least at a temperature of minus 18-20 degrees, pieces of ice form, then you should not drink either
• you can check suspicious vodka for the amount of fusel oils by adding the same amount of dilute sulfuric acid to a small amount of it, if the mixture has turned black, then you should not drink it.
• and finally, the most necessary tests - for the presence of methanol, a deadly chemical compound that almost always leads to death if timely measures are not taken:

Mix 10 ml of suspicious vodka with a small amount of dissolved laundry soap, drop a few drops of tincture of iodine and heat on fire, in the presence of methanol there is no yellow precipitate, and in the presence of ethanol or acetone, which is less dangerous in terms of poisoning, a yellow precipitate forms as a result of the iodoform reaction.

Another option is to add an aqueous solution of permanganate () acidified with sulfuric acid to a small amount of suspicious liquid and heat it up a little, smell it (not full breasts) and, if there is a smell of formaldehyde, do not drink in any case.

It should be remembered that the best antidote for methanol poisoning (vomiting, loss of vision, ataxia, pain in the legs, cyanosis, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness, etc.) is ethyl alcohol (no kidding) and at the first signs of poisoning, you should immediately start drinking high-quality vodka at the rate of at least 50 ml. every 3 hours for 4 or more days. You can also ethyl alcohol in the appropriate recalculation.

The state is trying to protect people from singed vodka. Today, the most modern type of protection is, of course, holography with five-pointed stars, on which you can see the abbreviation There is also a rhombus on the stamp, on which the Russian Federation is written. This rhombus shimmers, changing in color from lilac to bronze. If the protective excise stamp is a fake, then it has a duller color, and the holographic sign does not shimmer. At the very edge of the label there should also be a regional sign, on which there is an all-Russian region code. Of course, it is probably impossible to be absolutely sure that vodka is not fake, even if all degrees of protection are available.

As statistics show, it is vodka that is most often counterfeited. At the same time, instead of food alcohol, fake vodka may contain methyl alcohol, which is much cheaper, which is why it is used in a burnt product. Poisoning with methyl alcohol is very dangerous and often ends in death or severe impairment of the kidneys, liver, loss of vision.

Recently I learned a way to determine the presence of methyl alcohol in alcohol. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find out even in the store, but if the check shows that the vodka is fake, I think there will be a reason to return it to the store. They already know what they are selling and do not want an open scandal.

So, in order to determine whether there is methanol in the composition of vodka, it is necessary to heat the copper wire on a gas burner to a red-hot state and lower it into alcohol. If the vapors that appear at the same time smell like rotting wood, then it is better not to drink such vodka; methanol is present in it.

In the same program, it was proposed to check the strength of vodka, as one of the indicators of its authenticity. At the factory, the strength of vodka is controlled by an automatic machine, and scorched vodka is, as a rule, lower by a degree. 40-degree vodka will burn if poured into a flat container and carefully set on fire, and the match goes out in a fake product.

Singed vodka on the Russian market is now represented on a colossal scale. According to independent experts, almost half of the market is alcohol surrogates. Fake vodka is popularly called “burning”, and the consequences of drinking such alcohol can be serious, even fatal. That is why it is important to know how to check the quality of vodka at home, and even better, directly in the store. Of course, only a test in the laboratory will give a true result, but most often fake vodka is distinguished from the real one by external signs.

Surrogate alcohol is produced from low quality raw materials, most often in unregistered workshops. Upon exit from such production, a fake excise stamp is glued to the bottle and delivered in this form to stores.

If you look at the statistics of deaths from alcohol consumption, it is the “palenka” that is the number one reason. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths due to alcohol poisoning. It is profitable for underground producers to counterfeit vodka. The production of a fake requires minimal costs, in comparison with the production of the original drink. The sales revenue is fabulous.

It is worth distinguishing between burnt vodka and the so-called "leftist" alcohol. By "left" alcohol is meant a batch of original vodka, which was not registered by the plant. Why, you may ask? It's all about taxes, or rather, evading them. Sometimes, under the guise of "left" vodka, criminals sell "palenka". Most often this happens in cases where they are too lazy to forge an excise stamp for alcohol. Alcohol without an excise stamp cannot get into stores, so criminals try to sell their goods directly to buyers at a lower price.

Signs of "palenki"

So, how to check vodka in a store and not leave with a fake? You can distinguish real vodka from a fake by its appearance. Check how tight the cap is on the neck. Any defects, such as leakage or scrolling of the lid, make it possible to recognize the “stick”.

Real vodka differs from a fake by the presence of a safety ring located on the screw cap. Assess the level of liquid in the bottle. Usually at distilleries, bottling is carried out to the middle of the neck for bottles with a screw cap, and just above the hanger for the capless.

The tested alcohol is necessarily evaluated for the presence of sediment. To do this, just turn the bottle upside down. How to distinguish real alcohol from "palenki"? There should be no sediment at the bottom. If there is any suspicion of the presence of foreign particles, refuse to purchase. Alcohol surrogates will also differ in color. The factory product has a clear transparent shade. In fakes, there is turbidity, yellowish or pinkish hues.

You need to check alcohol by the date of bottling. According to factory standards, a date stamp is placed on each bottle on a label or cap. The location, of course, varies, but verified alcohol always has a clear, easy-to-read stamp on the production date. A number of manufacturers put the stamp twice: on the label and on the cap. Of course, the numbers are exactly the same.

Directly labels on alcohol substitutes are glued very badly. On a quality product, the sticker always sticks very tightly, there are no gaps. Any visual defects of the sticker are a reason to refuse the purchase. In addition, the label is distinguished by good printing of text or drawing, it is easy to read. In fakes, most often they are faded and dull.

Information about the manufacturer with its details is always indicated directly on the label. The front side indicates the date of the spill, the address of the company that produced the alcohol, the license number, the certificate and the strength of the drink. All this information is easily entered into the search engine to establish the authenticity of the information.

home check

If you have already bought alcohol, or you have received a gift, and you have doubts about its authenticity, do not hesitate to conduct an extra check. If you are wondering how to determine the authenticity of alcohol at home, pay attention to the smell. To check, vodka is poured into a teaspoon and slightly heated. When heated, the liquid burns with a blue flame, and after burning out, a residue remains, the smell of which will tell about the authenticity. If the residue smells of acetone or has another unpleasant odor, avoid drinking such alcohol.

Another verification option is weighing. The net weight of a standard bottle is 953 grams. Sulfuric acid is also used for testing. It determines the presence of fusel oils. If, when mixing vodka and acid in equal proportions, the mixture turns black, feel free to get rid of the purchased product.

Cold testing is also a good option for home use. When frozen to a temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius, vodka will not be covered with frost.

If not a single check revealed a dirty trick, and the vodka was still "scorched", most likely you will encounter poisoning. At the same time, poisoning with a “palenka” is most often confused with an ordinary hangover. Signs of poisoning include:

• nausea and vomiting;
• slurred speech;
• lack of response to external stimuli.

The situation is much more serious with the following complications: a person loses consciousness, convulsions appear. This is accompanied by pallor of the skin, sticky cold sweat, slow pulse, reduced body temperature. In this case, it is better to seek medical help.

In addition, it is necessary to provide first aid. If a person is conscious and responds to external stimuli, it is necessary to perform a gastric lavage. The easiest way is to use a solution of potassium permanganate for this, and then induce vomiting. If a person has lost consciousness, lay him on his side and check the condition before the arrival of doctors.

Unfortunately, the number of counterfeit alcoholic products on the shelves is very large. Poor-quality vodka contains impurities and fusel oils that poison the body. Sometimes "singed" vodka is made on methyl alcohol, and not on ethyl alcohol, as it should be. They taste and smell the same, but methyl is a poison. Methyl poisoning can lead to blindness and even death.

What signs indicate burnt vodka?

• The cap scrolls and does not fit tightly to the neck
• The filling stamp on the label does not match the stamp on the cap
• The label is glued crookedly, the adhesive strips are applied unevenly.
• The label is dull, the font on it is erased, dim (although at present the skill of counterfeiters has increased so much that this sign is not common)
• The liquid in the bottle has a yellowish or other color tint or is cloudy.
• Fake vodka often has sediment, suspension, foreign microparticles float.
• Fake vodka is less strong.
• 2-3 weeks after opening, vodka acquires a matte color.

How to understand that vodka is real?

- Pour vodka into a teaspoon, heat it on fire, and then set fire to the liquid. She should flare up. You need to let her burn and smell. If it smells sharp and unpleasant, then there are fusel impurities in vodka.
- Turn the bottle upside down and shake. If large bubbles form, it means that there is a lot of water in the vodka and it is of poor quality.

What should be on the label of real vodka?

On the label of real vodka, the date of bottling, the name and address of the manufacturer, the license number, the certification mark, and the strength of alcohol must be indicated.

How to recognize methyl alcohol poisoning?

At first, methyl alcohol intoxicates, like regular regular vodka. But after 10-12 hours, signs of severe poisoning appear: nausea, headache, vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, pain throughout the body, clouding of consciousness, fainting. Very often, people fail to recognize methyl poisoning, as these symptoms can also be mistaken for a hangover.

The first thing that many intuitively do when taking a bottle in their hands is to examine it for turbidity, impurities and sediment. Experts also begin the inspection in a similar way.

2. Vintage drink

The excise stamp must be available. The barcode on the excise stamp must be clearly visible and not blurry.

3. Polygraph test

See if the colors and contours on the label are clear, if the pasting is even. Pirates are usually let down by small, muddy print and the crooked hands of a printer, with whom they probably paid with the same vodka.

4. Palette half a liter

The most difficult thing for underground workers from Malaya Arnautskaya is to fake a bottle if the manufacturer took care of the tricky color of the glass (for example, a blue bottle). This is not done with a gouache brush! Glass is dyed in bulk, that is, you need to knead it for a whole vat, and also hit the color exactly (if you painted walls or a car, then you understand us). Yes, and it's just an expensive procedure.

Just imagine what color the bottle will turn out from the re-melted green Borjomi, which was probably pirated even during its lifetime.

5. The world of the future in a bottle

Yes, in our 21st century, the excise stamp code of many well-known brands can be checked directly on the manufacturer's website. Another ten years - and the bottle will do it on its own.