One in four bottles of alcoholic beverages are adulterated. The data is global and is not a problem exclusive to Brazil.
For the bottle to be considered illicit, the following factors are considered: illicit drink sold as a legal brand (substitution), reuse of legitimate bottles filled with cheaper alcohol or industrial production of illicit or unbranded brands.
In addition to the smuggling of finished products or raw materials: illicit import of ethanol as an input or illegal import of ready-made alcoholic beverages. The information is from Jeff Hardy, director general of the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit *acronym in English), a body linked to the UN.
The organization cites guidelines that can be applied to Brazil for better control and inspection of counterfeit drinks.
“Apply penalties that discourage criminal activity. Effective enforcement of laws requires coordination between government bodies, such as Revenue, police, health surveillance and border authorities. Administrative, criminal and civil penalties must be severe enough to curb counterfeiting and illegal trade”, points out Hardy in an interview with CNN Brazil.
For the general director of Tracit, even rethinking the taxes applied is a way to combat counterfeits.
“Rationalize tax policies and subsidies: Tax policies must avoid distortions that encourage smuggling, adulteration or theft. A proportionate and evidence-based approach helps to discourage the illegal market and ensure sustainable revenue, public health and consumer safety”, concludes Hardy.
Contamination in Brazil
So far, this Monday (20), according to the Ministry of Health, there are nine deaths from methanol poisoning after consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages in Brazil. Six were in São Paulo, two in Pernambuco and one in Paraná.
The Situation Room data shows . In addition, 578 records have already been discarded.
The state of São Paulo continues to have the highest number of notifications, with 38 confirmed cases and 19 under investigation. According to the Ministry of Health, the state discarded another 408 notifications.
Three cases of poisoning were also confirmed in Pernambuco, five in Paraná and one in Rio Grande do Sul.
In relation to the cases under investigation, Pernambuco registered 26; São Paulo (19), Piauí (3). Rio de Janeiro and Paraná are investigating two cases. The states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Paraná, Bahia, Minas Gerais and Tocantins, have only one case under investigation.
*With information from Helena Barra and Luan Leão
