POISON IN THE BOTTLE AS FESTIVE SEASON APPROACHES

Veronica Gwaze

THE festive season is usually associated with gluttony and over-indulgence as communities make merry with food and drink.

However, a mortal danger is lurking.

The once-simple pleasure of purchasing a bottle of whisky or brandy has become increasingly risky, as counterfeit products continue to flood the market.

To the untrained eye, it might be incredibly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake beverages.

And, as the festive season approaches, unscrupulous retailers seem to be stoking up on the potentially hazardous products.

The result is a proliferation of counterfeit whisky, often sold in reputable outlets, nightclubs and even on the streets to unsuspecting clients.

This alarming trend poses a significant threat to public health.

Counterfeit brews, usually produced under unsanitary conditions and with harmful ingredients, can have severe consequences, including alcohol poisoning and long-term health problems.

The Government has expressed deep concern over this issue, highlighting the potential dangers to consumers.

The sale of counterfeit alcohol is a violation of food safety regulations and consumer protection laws.

The story of Shingai, a whisky connoisseur, shows how pervasive the problem has become.

He was stunned when he came across a bottle of his beloved Jameson Irish Whiskey priced at a tempting US$12.

The product beckoned from the shelves of a new liquor store.

A bargain, he thought.

But upon taking a sip, a strange, off-putting taste assaulted his palate.

This forced him to clearly examine the bottle. He discovered subtle differences with the other bottles he had in his collection.

There were mismatched fonts and awkwardly placed logos, among other red flags, which made him realise he had been duped.

Some buyers, however, cannot be bothered, as all they consider is the price.

A shadowy syndicate, comprising corrupt officials, businesspeople and smugglers, is orchestrating the illicit trade.

The counterfeit whiskies are sourced from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia.

Some of the products are also produced locally in backyard breweries.

Renowned brands such as Jameson, Glenfiddich, Gold Blend, Two Keys, Grants, Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker constitute the bulk of the products that are imitated the most.

The counterfeit bottles, priced as low as US$3, can be bought in liquor stores, nightclubs and on the streets.

In a recent crackdown, the police in Bulawayo dismantled a major counterfeit alcohol ring, delivering a significant blow to the illicit trade.

“We have quite a number of cases of arrests that were made of backyard brewery operators,” said Zimbabwe Republic Police Harare provincial spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza.

“It has also come to our attention that people are selling fake alcoholic beverages that are either imported or produced in backyard breweries, so we are committed to continuing our raids.”

The production and supply of illicit brews is a complex and dangerous industry, involving a network of individuals and organisations.

This illicit trade begins with the procurement of ingredients such as ethanol and methanol, which are then mixed with water and colouring agents to create counterfeit spirits.

These concoctions, often of dubious quality and potentially harmful, are packaged in bottles bearing counterfeit labels, but, in some cases, with misspelt brand names.

To further reduce costs, some counterfeiters resort to recycling old bottles collected from dumpsites or popular drinking establishments.

The ability to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit spirits is often challenging, especially when counterfeiters use high-quality imitation labels.

“We have a planned operation to check operating licences and also flush out those involved in the fake beverage business. Offenders will face the law,” added Insp Chakanza.

Culprits

Ethanol and methanol — the primary ingredients used in the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages — are readily available in Mbare.

A 20-litre container of ethanol, capable of producing approximately 60 standard bottles of whisky, can be purchased for as little as US$25.

On the local market, some of the counterfeit beverages are packaged in Mbare.

“I get the alcohol in bulk from my source, who is based in Mutare, and I then repackage it for a profit. I only deal with those who buy from me in bulk,” a dealer identified as Isaac told this writer.

Counterfeiters often use fake seals to mislead unsuspecting consumers.

While large supermarkets with strict procurement procedures remain out of reach for these illicit producers, they have found a lucrative market in mid-sized retail shops, including franchises.

Agnes Chipunza recently had her contraband valued at approximately US$25 000 intercepted by the authorities at the Chirundu Border Post while she was returning from Zambia.

“Towards public holidays, especially the festive season, cases of smuggling increase because the criminals will be preparing for brisk business,” said a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority official who opted not to be named.

“A number of people have been arrested trying to smuggle alcoholic beverages and the numbers seem to be on the rise.

“However, it is not our responsibility to check whether the product is fake or not.”

According to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the proliferation of unlicensed liquor stores across towns has facilitated the influx of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

This is due to lack of stringent procurement guidelines.

Some stores even operate without proper licensing and the owners allegedly bribe local authorities to avoid inspections.

“We are aware that some of these stores are unlicensed; this is against the law. Once they are caught, the culprits risk arrest and the outlets face forced closure,” said the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works communications and advocacy director, Gabriel Masvora.

“Local authorities do not have arresting powers, so, in case of raids, they have to engage the police. There is also a need to have the Standards Association of Zimbabwe in the mix because they are the ones who can then test and see if a product is genuine or fake.”

According to Masvora, by-laws stipulate that liquor stores should be less than 40 percent of the total number of retail shops in any particular city or town.

This, he said, is the basis they use to issue licences across towns. Currently, there are at least 11 500 licensed liquor stores countrywide.

“Based on a recent verification exercise, we noted a proliferation of outlets and the issue of backyard breweries is also on the rise,” he said.

Some of these liquor stores sell alcohol to teenagers, leading to increased cases of learners getting drunk or being caught with alcohol on school premises.

Consequences

Health experts warn that the alcohol content in illicitly produced beverages often exceeds acceptable standards.

While standard whisky typically contains around 40 percent alcohol, undiluted ethanol can reach as high as 95 percent.

This higher alcohol content makes these beverages more potent and addictive, potentially leading to rapid intoxication and even blackouts.

Medical professionals emphasise that consuming illicit brews can have severe physical and psychological consequences.

Dr Keith Madziva, a general practitioner, highlights the harmful nature of the ingredients used in the production of these counterfeit beverages, which can lead to various health complications.

“Ingredients such as ethanol can make one high or tipsy, but in the long run, they bring dangerous side effects,” he said.

“Some of the side effects of fake alcohol are hallucinations, paranoia, abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches and nausea.”

However, some cases may result in long-term effects like liver damage, blindness, cancer and mental health challenges.

“Some of these unscrupulous traders are so daring that they use methanol, isopropanol, cleaning fluids and nail polish removers as substitutes for ethanol, endangering people’s lives,” added Dr Madziva.

“Methanol may cause permanent blindness, so it should not be used, especially in products meant for public consumption.”

Despite the well-documented health risks associated with consuming illicit brews, some individuals continue to buy them.

“I get satisfaction in buying a supposedly expensive bottle of whisky and consuming it in my neighbourhood. I have never had any health issues with the so-called fake booze. I think people should just buy what they can afford and what does not create health complications for them,” argued Tatenda Ranganai.

His colleague, Shadreck Mupemhi, added: “It is all about affordability. There is no way I can go and buy a bottle of whisky for US$50 when I can get the same product for US$15 or less from runners.”

However, chief executive officer of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Rosemary Mpofu urged consumers to buy liquor from registered and established retail outlets.

“Some consumers buy fake products without knowing they are fake because they are lured by the low prices and convenience, but they should understand that this comes with health implications,” she said.

“We believe there is also a need for more punitive measures in such cases because public health is a sensitive issue.”