Tsakani – The Gauteng Liquor Board, in partnership with the SAPS and South African Liquor Trader Association, held a workshop about illicit alcohol at the Tsakane SAPS hall on May 14.
Cleo Bodibe-Lushaba, Director of Client Relations Management at the Gauteng Liquor Board, has warned communities about the dangers of consuming illicit or counterfeit alcohol.
Speaking during an awareness initiative, Bodibe-Lushaba said the campaign aimed to educate both liquor traders and consumers about the risks associated with fake alcohol.
“What we are doing today is very important. We are highlighting illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
“We have noticed that our communities are consuming illicit alcohol, which is very harmful to the body,” she said.
She explained that counterfeit alcohol not only harms people’s health but also negatively affects the economy.
“We are regarded as a crime economy because some of the taxes that should have gone into the fiscus get lost in the process,” she added.
Bodibe-Lushaba said liquor traders play an important role in preventing the spread of fake alcohol because they purchase stock in bulk and distribute it to consumers.
“We want them to be able to differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate alcohol so that they stock products that will not harm people,” she said.
She also encouraged consumers to pay closer attention to what they consume.
“Just like food or cold drinks, you need to know what you are putting inside your body,” she cited.
According to Bodibe-Lushaba, government health facilities continue to face challenges in treating people affected by harmful substances and fake alcohol consumption. She warned that counterfeit alcohol can lead to severe health complications and even death.
“People die because of consuming illicit alcohol. The vital organs that suffer the most are the liver, kidneys and lungs,” she explained.
She said fake alcohol can sometimes be identified through unusual bottle designs, incorrect labels or differences in colour.
ALSO READ: New Duduza radio station empowers young learners through broadcasting
However, she noted that some counterfeit products are difficult to detect because the packaging may appear genuine.
The awareness initiative also involved partnerships with the alcohol industry through Drinks Federation South Africa, while the Department of Health forms part of an ongoing forum addressing the issue.
Bodibe-Lushaba urged liquor traders to avoid buying alcohol at suspiciously low prices.
“There is nothing like cheap alcohol. If the price is far below the normal market price, traders must know there is something wrong,” she said.
She added that prioritising profits over people’s lives could have devastating consequences for families and communities.
“There is no price for life. You could be killing a breadwinner and the whole family will suffer,” she said.
Police officers were also included in the awareness programme. Bodibe-Lushaba said more than 300 designated liquor officers from police stations across Gauteng attended a recent training session to help identify counterfeit alcohol during inspections and raids.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
