I tried to open my eyes, but even the tiniest sliver of light was too much. I made my way to my windows, snatched the curtains shut and crawled back to bed.

"Am I dead, or am I dying?" I asked myself. I was sweating, and my head was pounding so hard that I could not even think. Hours passed this way with no relief.

I tried ordering food but could barely lift myself to answer the door. What caused the reaction? Well, I will tell you - fake alcohol!

It was my first month in Beijing, and my roommate and I headed down to Sanlitun to celebrate and indulge ourselves with some Mexican food and drinks.

I should have known something was up when they offered five tequila shots for 45 yuan ($6.5), but I was new to China and thought I had just found the deal of the century.

Everything was fine until the next morning.

I had never experienced a hangover like that before, and since I am not new to drinking, I could not understand how I could feel that way when I drank so little.

Fake alcohol has been an issue in China for some time. Even though the problem is starting to lessen, consumers should still be on the lookout for fake alcohol and its harmful effects. The main ingredients in most fake alcohol can make you blind or even cause kidney and heart failure.

Expats are an easy target, especially those who are looking for a cheap drinking option since many reputable bar prices are similar to those back home.

The expat-centric area on Sanlitun's bar street is the most notorious for selling fake alcohol. Most expats start in nicer establishments, but as the night goes on, they find themselves taking in cheap drinks at lower quality establishments.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A special with 100 yuan all you can drink or 10-yuan mixed drinks may sound like a great deal when you are on a tight budget, but it should raise a red flag right away.

Also, when buying your own bottles, try to buy from larger, more reputable sellers, rather than the small neighborhood shops, and always check for the China import label.

If you get alcohol and it smells funny or you are in doubt, get rid of it.

It is not worth your health to save a few yuan.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.