Chernobyl-Produced Vodka Seized By Authorities

By the Ami Ciccone

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May 27, 2021

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Food

Atomik Vodka

If you felt eager to try the recently released Chernobyl-produced vodka, it will not happen anytime soon. While the company behind the company says its product remains safe, Ukrainian authorities seized the liquor!

Chernobyl-Produced Vodka

Kadams1970/WikimediaCommons

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster remains highest, has become something of an extreme tourist destination in recent years. Of course, scientists say humans cannot return anytime soon. However, many wolves, bears, and other wildlife still make their home inside the 1,017 square miles of closed land. Along with the animals, plenty of fauna, including apples, still grows in the Exclusion Zone. So, British company Atomik Spirits decided to see if they could make vodka from the fruit there. As Ukraine does not allow development of the land, they needed to distill the vodka from the best apples they could find!

Does it seem crazy to you? You are not alone! But, according to Atomik Spirits, the drink is fine for consumption. In fact, according to Professor Jim Smith, a co-founder of the company, the liquor is "no more radioactive than any other vodka."

"30 years on after the accident we found was that in the area the crops were slightly above the very cautious Ukranian limit for consumption. So technically, you can't eat those crops. But we thought, Well, we've got some grain, why don't we try making a vodka," he explained. "When you distill something, lots of impurities stay in the waste product, and the final product is more pure."

However, Atomik Spirits says there are more reasons to buy the vodka. For instance, it could also help reinvigorate a forgotten area. "I think this is the most important bottle of spirits in the world because it could help the economic recovery of communities living in and around the abandoned areas," Smith finished. Apparent, though, Ukraine disagrees...

Seized By Authorities

Atomik Vodka

While Atomik Spirits stands behind the product, the Ukrainian authorities disagree. They actually seized the product! So, over 1,500 bottles of Atomic Vodka won't ship to the customers, the team announced on March 19.

Moreover, the vodka producers say the government's seizure is just a hoax to save face. "It seems that they are accusing us of using forged Ukrainian excise stamps," Professor Smith said. "But this doesn't make sense since the bottles are for the UK market and are clearly labeled with valid UK excise stamps."

So, what happens next? Well, the company plans to try and overturn the decision. If they do, people can happily enjoy the drink - and feel good at the same time! You see, Atomik plans to use a portion of the profits to "aid Chernobyl-adjacent villages." Hopefully, this inspires the Ukrainian government to resolve these "stamp issues" quickly.