A Birmingham shop’s licence is at risk after officers found 12 fake bottles of a wine brand which has been “counterfeited on an extremely large scale”.
B & G Wines – trading as Max Convenience Store – in Monyhull Hall Road, Brandwood, will be subject of a Birmingham City Council licensing review hearing on March 8.
It is the latest shop to be investigated by trading standards and West Midlands Police following claims there is a “huge problem” of fake Yellow Tail wine in the city.
Papers to the licensing sub-committee state trading standards officers were informed on December 8 that a man had bought a bottle of Yellow Tail Chardonnay which “did not taste as it should”.
The customer said when he took it back to the shop and confronted the shop assistant, “the man had refused to listen”.
Trading standards officers and West Midlands Police went to the shop on December 13 and found 12 bottles of counterfeit Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon and Yellow Tail Chardonnay which had fake lot codes on the labels.
The bottles were in a fridge display, a shelf at the rear of the shop and in a storeroom.
A trading standards officer wrote: “It is difficult to assess how much counterfeit product this shop may have supplied.
“We know counterfeit Yellow Tail has been in the supply chain for a year now.
“Investigation has shown that there are no fake products in genuine supply chains such as cash and carries etc.
“They are supplied by organised criminal networks who often supply other illegal products including spirits and smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products.
“Any retailer buying from them would be well aware of their source.
“No tax or duty is paid on the products, no invoices or traceability is provided which all acts to undermine legitimate trade and revenue.”
Both West Midlands Police and the council’s licensing enforcement team have supported trading standards’ call for a licence review – with both arguing the shop’s licence should be revoked.
Brian McLister