fake tequila - mexico says NO!

This image, courtesy of the Mexican Tequila Regulatory Council, is "Pseudo Tequila" on display before it got destroyed in 2005. The Mexican Tequila Regulatory Council and Mexican Tequila makers continue their battle against knockoff tequilas.
The Council says the imitators range from sugarcane moonshine made in Mexican garages to quality spirits made from agave plants in South Africa. The group says it is mobilizing lawyers to defend tequila's good name.
While some consumers may not realize they're getting an impostor, Mexican producers & the Mexcian government are concerned that the drink's image could eventually be damaged by subpar products. There is a valid concern that if new consumers experience these pseudo products and have a bad first experience, it may impact the tequila market as a whole. The tequila council said there are no documented cases of anyone being poisoned by fake tequila, but apparently, some of the knockoffs are made in garages or basements and could be contaminated with oil or cleansers. Members of the regulatory commision claim that liquors contaminated with wood alcohol can cause blindness or brain damage. Scary!
The Mexican government seized 23,000 gallons of fake Tequila in September alone and has now banned 41 brands that were determined to be imposters or not up to par with the guidelines set forth. According to a recent USA Today article, fake brands included Salvaje (Savage) and El Valiente (The Brave One), which the Tequila Regulatory Council ruled to be types of rum. Others, like El Trailero (The Trucker), were mainly spiny agave liquor, also known as mescal. One brand of "tequila," Monte Alban, even included a worm in the bottle — something that only mescal bottlers do. Also according to the article, the council has begun certifying bars and restaurants with the "T Seal," a plaque saying that they serve only real tequila. About 50 businesses have gotten the seal. Good to know!