South Africa’s illicit alcohol trade is estimated to be worth around R25 billion. One in every five drinks sold in the country may be illicit.
Gareth Edwards speaks to leading liquor law attorney Danny Cronin about the scale of the problem, how counterfeit and smuggled alcohol moves through the market, and why illegal liquor outlets are so difficult to police.
The conversation traces the issue from fake spirits and unsafe supply chains to unlicensed taverns, tax losses, public health risks and the impact on vulnerable communities. Cronin explains why compliant manufacturers and distributors often do not supply unlicensed outlets, leaving those spaces exposed to cheaper and potentially unsafe alcohol.
He also links the issue to child protection, alcohol abuse, poverty and the reality that many consumers are driven towards cheaper liquor by financial pressure.
But the biggest twist may be regulatory. Cronin argues that overregulation can support the illicit trade by making it too difficult for small operators to enter the legal system.
This episode asks a difficult question: does South Africa need stricter alcohol rules, or smarter ones?
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