Illicit alcohol trading is on the rise in South Africa and BusinessTech reported a warning to the public on 29 October 2024, after the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) asked consumers to take extra precautions this festive season to avoid purchasing illicit alcohol.
The CEO of DF-SA, Angela Russell, revealed during an interview on the Kaya Biz podcast on 28 October 2024, the main ways you can recognise illicit alcohol. Illicit alcohol is products that haven’t paid taxes and duties, and this illegal trade is at about 40% in Africa. According to Tax Justice South Africa, it usually contains “fatal levels of alcohol and toxic ingredients.”
HOW CAN CONSUMERS SPOT ILLICIT ALCOHOL?
A careful inspection of alcoholic beverages can help you not purchase products that are illegal without realising it this festive season. Here are three ways Russell said can help you spot them and stop illicit alcohol trading:
Look/condition of the bottle or cap
Inconsistency in the look or shape of the bottle of the product is one of the things to look out for. Also, there shouldn’t be any damage or dents, and the cap should make a cracking sound when opened.
Product labelling
Another thing to spot from the packaging is the quality of the printing on the label. Also, any errors in spelling and whether there is even a barcode or label at the back.
Quality of the liquid
Another red flag is the quality of the liquid in the bottle. The liquid shouldn’t appear diluted or hazy, and there shouldn’t be any particles floating around or uneven fill levels.
FREQUENT REPORTS OF ILLICIT ALCOHOL CONFISCATION
Authorities are mostly doing their part in curbing the trading of these illegal products. There have been frequent reports of illicit alcohol worth hundreds of thousands and even millions being discovered in various provinces. The South African Police Service ( SAPS) made numerous arrests in two separate incidents in the Western Cape on 1 November 2024. They revealed in a social media post that illegal alcoholic products worth R250 000 were confiscated in Paarl East.
ILLICIT ALCOHOL IS A HEALTH HAZARD
The three most common forms of illicit alcohol are counterfeit alcohol, smuggled goods and home brews. Fake alcohol and home brews pose a serious health hazard. In SA, it’s estimated that about 500 million litres of harmful illicit alcohol is consumed yearly, according to Tax Justice South Africa. SAPS says research shows that these products can cause liver or kidney issues if consumed frequently. Also, they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, drowsiness and blindness.
HAVE YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW BEEN AFFECTED BY ILLICIT ALCOHOL?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
