The Drinks Federation of South Africa has released a new report revealing a sharp rise in the country’s illicit alcohol market, which has grown by 55% in volume since 2017.
The study, conducted by research firm Euromonitor International, sheds light on the growing toll of illicit alcohol in South Africa, posing serious risks to public health, endangering consumer safety, and draining vital tax revenue from the state.
What the report reveals about illicit alcohol in South Africa:
- Almost 1 in 5 drinks sold in South Africa is illegal. Yep, 18% of all alcohol sold in the country is from the black market.
- It’s a booming business — for the wrong reasons. The value of the illicit alcohol market hit R25.1 billion in 2024, up from R20.5 billion in 2020, and just R12.8 billion back in 2017.
- It’s posing serious risks to public health. Of the 707 people surveyed:
- 49% said they know someone who’s been harmed by illegal alcohol.
- 29% said they know someone who actually died from drinking it.
- The country is losing big money. In 2024 alone, South Africa lost R16.5 billion in tax revenue because of illegal alcohol — that’s a huge jump from R11.3 billion in 2020 and R6.4 billion in 2017.
- Fake booze is doing the most damage. Counterfeit spirits (think dodgy vodka and gin) are the worst offenders — making up two-thirds of the total money lost and causing an estimated R6.3 billion hit to government revenue in 2024.
- It’s been growing fast. Since 2017, the amount of illicit alcohol has jumped 55% — from 498,000 hectolitres in 2017 to 773,000 hectolitres in 2024. (FYI, 1 hectolitre = 100 litres.)
Dr. Shamal Ramesar, Head of Research at DF-SA, didn’t mince words, calling it plainly: “This study is a wake-up call.”
He went on to stress the urgency of the situation: “Communities are being exposed to harmful, unregulated alcohol, and the country is losing billions in revenue. It is urgent that government, industry, and civil society work together to tackle this issue head-on.”
The DF-SA is urging swift, united action from government, law enforcement, and industry players—calling for efforts to crack down on illegal producers, protect consumers from unregulated booze, raise public awareness about the dangers, and promote a culture of responsible, legal alcohol consumption.
