The LCBO says it has contacted police and launched an internal investigation after determining that a bottle of vodka sold at one of its stores was actually filled with water.

According to LCBO Spokesperson Keeley Rogers, the 1.75 litre bottle of Smirnoff vodka was sent to a third-party lab after being returned by a customer, where it was determined that the liquid inside was water with a residual amounts of vodka.

Rogers says that there is “sufficient evidence” indicating that the mix-up is the result of “deliberate product tampering.”

As a result, the LCBO has contacted the police and conducted visual inspections of all plastic spirits bottles currently on the shelves at its 653 retail stores and 212 agency stores.

Const. Victor Kwong said they are now aware of multiple occurences of tampered products being returned at LCBO outlets spanning from Hamilton to Scarborough.

Surveillance camera footage suggests the same perpetrator is responsible for each offence.

The LCBO is also temporarily suspending the practice of making returned bottles available for re-sale pending the completion of an internal investigation.

“The LCBO takes product tampering and fraudulent returns very seriously and we are working closely with local police, as this is a criminal matter,” Rogers said in a statement. “We are also taking the appropriate steps to revise and strengthen our existing policies, procedures where necessary. All retail employees are required to complete mandatory refresher training.”

According to Rogers, the LCBO has so far only received one complaint about a bottle being filled with anything other than the advertised product and has provided that customer with a full refund.

The bottle in question was purchased at an LCBO in the Highway 401 and Kennedy Road area.