Concern grows as contaminated alcohol hits bottle shops

Buyers are urged to stick to trusted brands and bottle shops, and to question unusually low prices. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Australians are being put at risk of dire health consequences as tainted illicit alcohol is unknowingly sold in bottle shops, prompting calls for stronger liquor regulation.

Researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW and National Drug Research Institute found almost one-in-three bottle shops visited across Victoria, NSW, and Queensland contained suspected illicit alcohol products.