Rum and tequila drinkers may be risking their health the next time they sip their favorite alcoholic beverages at a bar, after government tests indicated that 100 percent of the two spirits served at inspected nightspots was adulterated.
Tests conducted by the state’s chemical laboratory on 39 restaurants and bars in the Attica region in the first few days of July showed that all samples of rum and tequila drinks had been diluted with other ingredients.
About half of the vodka samples turned out to be something other than purely the spirit in question. Whiskey appears to be the safest bet; only 20 percent of this liquor showed evidence of tampering.
Adulterated drinks pose a danger to consumers as they can cause splitting headaches, permanent blindness or, in extreme cases, even death.
The state laboratory conducted the tests in cooperation with members of the now-defunct financial crimes squad, SDOE.
The checks also found that two-thirds of bars had committed some sort of tax infringement, usually in the form of failing to issue receipts.
No mention of Corfu....but it makes you wonder
Also no mention of my favorite tipple, Metaxa....phew
Sue
Message posted by John and Hilary on 27 July 2005 at 12:18pm - IP Logged
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Sue: That was extremely interesting! In about 1987, my twin sister got poisoned by drinking whisky (don't remember if it was bourbon or scotch) at an outdoor cafe in the Kolonaki region of Athens. She had to go to the hospital and stay the night. She was extremely and frighteningly ill. The doctors didn't know what to do. I thought she was going to die there.
There's always a light side to everything, so here's the light side to THAT: The doctor who was assigned to her in Athens was very handsome. He told her he would have to do a pelvic exam. I put my arms like a barrier in front of my sister, looked at the doctor, and said, "Not without at least DINNER first!" Of course, I, knowing she had "food poisoning," knew there could be no valid medical reason for giving her a pelvic exam.
And the other light side is: I don't know if this is still true, but in 1987, we were not charged even one drachma for my sister's care at the Athens hospital (which, as I said above, was overnight as well). The lady at the cashier's cage told us that any foreigner who gets ill in Greece on holiday gets free medical care. Phew! Good because we didn't have an extra drachma to our names!
Portia
Message posted by baza (Platinum Member) on 27 July 2005 at 5:32pm - IP Logged
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I think John and Hilary hit the nail on the head,the youngsters drinking like they do at times wouldn't notice if there were any unusual tastes or side effects,they would just put it down to the amount they were drinking,then suffer a terrible hangover.
The good thing about going out with a car,is that you cant drink,i have mine from a bottle of scotch or metaxa that was opened by me,after we come back,cheers bobbo
Message posted by purrypuss (Moderator) on 27 July 2005 at 11:54pm - IP Logged
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After recently returning from Kavos and seeing some of the cheap drink offers, which yes I did drink!!! 4 "cocktails" for 5 Euros and a free slammer, we always knew it wasnt "Stolly" they were serving up, some bars advertised their cocktails as "methanol free" which is rather disturbing.
We always laugh at the cheap vodka, as I am sure it is just white spirit, but it certainly is concerning knowing that people are drinking this to excess, especially the young ones, as they dont know their limits.
I have a few on the balcony before I go out, and watch what I drink when I go out, the "headflipper" (I used a polite word then) cocktail that they sell in Kavos for 5 Euros contains 6 double measures, and I know it sounds fun, but please be aware that alcohol poisoning can be deadly. I work in a alcohol addiction unit, so get to see the bad sides of drink, even though I love a good session!
Message posted by rocdoc on 28 July 2005 at 12:08am - IP Logged
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hmm our host in paleo warned us about drinking in certain bars, obviously wont mention which here , he insisted they tampered with the spirits. we thought it was probably just a ploy to keep us in his bar late at night but followed his advice none the less. glad we did now. the hangovers we suffered were definitely self inflicted mainly induced by mythos and ouzo!
Message posted by andy the fish on 28 July 2005 at 12:14am - IP Logged
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there is alot of copies out there and some are realy nice. the word for copies is bomba & lots of bars sell this. this is not tampered with but a cheeper version of the real deal. sometimes as nice as the origional. so make sure you order bells,mataxa,smirnoff, ect by name & not just say whisky,brandy,vodka. i hope this stops the hangovers but i think not
all the best,andy
Message posted by Portia on 28 July 2005 at 7:26pm - IP Logged
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Was talking about this with my twin sister on the telephone last night, and we both agree: One won't have any trouble if one orders what the Greeks drink: wine or beer. Unfortunately, it is rather true that Greeks, and Corfiots, don't really consume much of spirits (vodka, rum, scotch, etc.), but they do drink wine and beer. Thus, I don't know this as a certainty but would suspect that this adulteration of spirits has something to do with the bartender's (or bar owner's) feelings about tourists (and their money!). No Greek and certainly no Corfiot would adulterate wine or beer which his/her fellow countrymen drink. I guess it's "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Or buy your own sealed bottle of spirits from the grocery store, and bring it back to your taverna with you! Many countries are like this. When I was in Ecuador, I dreaded ordering what I like (vodka-tonic or red wine) because of the potential for adulteration, so drank primarily the red Chileno wine that I personally bought from the grocery store, because in Ecuador, the local folks drink primarily just beer. Red wine seems to be a costly thing which the locals just don't drink.
Portia
Message posted by Trace (Profile Location Assistant) on 28 July 2005 at 7:36pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by Portia on 28 July 2005
Unfortunately, it is rather true that Greeks, and Corfiots, don't really consume much of spirits (vodka, rum, scotch, etc.),
Can't totally agree with you there Portia......my Greek friends (not only Corfiot) are the biggest whisky drinkers I know (they can't believe that I'm Scottish and don't even like the stuff).
They seem to have a particular taste for the Famous Grouse and are always trying to get me to bring them some (not that it's any cheaper for us)!
Message posted by rocdoc on 28 July 2005 at 8:25pm - IP Logged
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I usually take my brother in law a good bottle of sipping whisky,which my sister puts out of harms way till christmas.He is rather partial to a wee drachm,and a few big ones,but he does drink the local stuff as well,he's just as likely to be full of beer,as retsina or anything else,cheers,bobbo
Message posted by NatalieDonnan (Forum SuperModel) on 29 July 2005 at 12:16pm - IP Logged
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Hmm maybe thats why I got so ill drinking Tequilla in Kalami. No actually it was probably the quanity not the quality that made me act insane and nearly drown in the swimming pool at all hours plus gave me the hangover from hell the next day!
Deedee and everyone else who was at Cocktails & Dreams that night will remember it well 'TEQUILLA IT MAKES ME HAPPY!!!'
I was still singing that as I was vomitting the next morning! lol
lol madness! What a fab holiday we had!
Message posted by Trace (Profile Location Assistant) on 29 July 2005 at 1:43pm - IP Logged
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LOL Natalie......You live and learn! Sure you didn'y get a bit lost and make it to Kavos after all (did you manage to make it down there for the night to meet your friends?)
Message posted by NatalieDonnan (Forum SuperModel) on 29 July 2005 at 2:11pm - IP Logged
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lol thankfully not! I was hating the fact of going to Kavos (although we are young and like a drink that 18-30 sort of thing doesn't interest us at all. We prefer beautiful scenery and quiet days and then have a tipple - or ten! at the bar in the evening) so I was well pleased when Andy said he liked Kalami so much it would be a pity to leave it. Result!
We did meet our friends at Aqualand (not arranged! Corfu is a small place!) and they were going on about the 5 drinks for 4 euros etc and the music was banging all day and the 18-30 reps were mad and such fun. I was in a world of my own thinking 'such fun? my backside! that place sounds dreadful!' lol.
I was sooo glad to get back to beautiful Kalami that evening!
Nothing against you people who love Kavos, but its just not our scene.
Message posted by Deedee on 29 July 2005 at 3:34pm - IP Logged
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Deedee
Quote: Originally posted by NatalieDonnan on 29 July 2005
Hmm maybe thats why I got so ill drinking Tequilla in Kalami. No actually it was probably the quanity not the quality that made me act insane and nearly drown in the swimming pool at all hours plus gave me the hangover from hell the next day!
Deedee and everyone else who was at Cocktails & Dreams that night will remember it well 'TEQUILLA IT MAKES ME HAPPY!!!'
I do indeed remember, I have a photo of a wet Natalie and Andy.
Deedee
Message posted by NatalieDonnan (Forum SuperModel) on 29 July 2005 at 4:36pm - IP Logged
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Ooh no! I must have been really, really drunk that night Deedee I can't remember you taking our photograph! lol
I dread to see what I look like! The next morning I woke up and looked in the mirror and I had these big panda eyes and my hair smelled of chlorine. I just thought 'oh my goodness, what have I done?!' ha ha ha.
Good times, good times.
Message posted by bobbo on 30 July 2005 at 11:23pm - IP Logged
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I hated getting that sloshed,you tend not to,as you get older,many a time I've woken up with a hangover,and been embarressed,but I couldn't what for,till later,when it comes back with a big splash!As a lot of my finer moments happened at a cricket club,sometimes it was a week before i saw some people again,and wondered who was gunning for me,usually nobody was,but there are a couple of stories I'd rather not tell,cheers,bobbo
Message posted by rocdoc on 31 July 2005 at 2:40am - IP Logged
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Bobbo - I can only say that you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.
I, on the other hand, have never been in that sort of condition - except for about twice a month between 1975 and 1997 (I have been rather boring in recent years ).
Stuart
Message posted by bobbo on 31 July 2005 at 11:31pm - IP Logged
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My dear old Stuart,only twice a month,my performances were probably 3 or 4 times a week,depending on how many runs It was a pleasure s I scored,the more the merrier,in more ways than 1! It was always a pleasure,getting 100 or more,till about 6a.m. next day!It only lasted from about 67 till 95,though,now i know my limits,beter late than never,cheers,bobbo
Message posted by gail +joe on 01 August 2005 at 12:50am - IP Logged
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WHATS WRONG DOSE NOONE DRINK GIN . AT HOME I ONLY DRINKRED WINE WHEN IN ST GEORGE BOTH HASEN KILLED ME YET 16 YEARS LATER BUT WENT TO YOUNG BAR WE HAD TO LEAVE DRINKS BAD LISTEN TO YOUR GREEK FRIENDS IT NOT FOR THE COSTUM THERE RIGHT YAMMAS GAIL + JOE
Message posted by rocdoc on 02 August 2005 at 1:41am - IP Logged
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Message posted by Cath45 on 04 August 2005 at 4:31pm - IP Logged
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Cath45
A few years ago we met up with a British girl who worked as a tour guide on the boat trips around Crete. She came into the bar around 9pm sat next to us and chatted, she seemed ok, about 15 minutes later she fell to the ground and started fitting - I jumped off my bar stool and started moving the furniture out of the way thinking she had epilepsy, the owner of the bar phoned for an ambulance who came quickly and whisked her off to hospital- the bar owner was very apologetic as it was the first time we had visited the bar. We called back in the following day and asked after her - she was still in hospital, the diagnosis was that prior to going in that bar her drink had been spiked elsewhere - her partner was in the bar and she said that she had no history of the illness and it was all down to the "bomba" she had had slipped into her drink. Scary stuff - I'm always a bit wary of the "trendy" bars with their special offers as I'm bad enough on the good quality spirits!!
On the subject of Greeks and whiskey - also on Crete we used to visit a bar on the main road in Malia where the owner only drank either Guiness (daytime) or Jameson Whiskey (evenings) though this could have had something to do with his missus being Irish!!
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AT HOME I ONLY DRINKRED WINE WHEN IN ST GEORGE BOTH HASEN KILLED ME YET 16 YEARS LATER BUT WENT TO YOUNG BAR WE HAD TO LEAVE DRINKS BAD LISTEN TO YOUR GREEK FRIENDS IT NOT FOR THE COSTUM THERE RIGHT
