Author: Dr. Shamal Vinesh Ramesar Ramesar
The rise of illicit alcohol in South Africa is not just an industry concern — it is a national crisis with deep implications for public health and economic growth. New research commissioned by the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) and conducted by Euromonitor International reveals a surge in the illicit market that threatens to undermine both public health and the economy. Since 2017, the volume of illicit alcohol has grown by a staggering 55%, reaching 773,000 hectolitres of litres of absolute alcohol equivalent (HL LAE) in 2024. That’s equivalent to nearly one in every five alcoholic drinks sold. The…