How common are counterfeit alcohol beverages?
I am wondering how common are fake whiskey, vodka, cognac? I am curious about US and Caribbeans. What is the chance of getting bootleg booze?
I am wondering how common are fake whiskey, vodka, cognac? I am curious about US and Caribbeans. What is the chance of getting bootleg booze?
USAFisnumber1
Favorite Answer
Actually pretty rare. The only market for fakes would be in the high end booze area such as single malt scotch from Scotland. And anyone who knows single malt scotch, they would be able to tell a fake.
Try a bottle of Oban then try some Cutty Sark. You will spot the difference right away.
CrustyCurmudgeon
Virtually all top-shelf liquors have distinctive bottles and labels. If you are familiar with these designs, it is pretty easy to spot the fakes, because to make identical bottles and labels would cost the counterfeiter almost as much as the profit to be made from selling an imitation. As others have pointed out, it's more likely to occur in a bar, substituting lower grade booze for top-shelf brands.
heart o' gold
I don't know that I've ever seen counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
Bootleg doesn't mean counterfeit, it means illegally made. You have to have a permit to make alcohol - other than home brewing, etc. If you want to sell the alcohol you have made there are regulations regarding commercial manufacturing and sales. These regulations are for the protection of the public as your health can be harmed by some poorly made alcohols.I've had homemade moonshine (kicks your butt) as well as homemade wines and beers (mixed bag, I'll mostly pass).
If you mean how likely are you to buy a bottle at a US store and it be fake, I'd say the odds are about zero that will happen. If you are getting bootleg alcohol it is not likely to be in bottles that claim it is something else.
Groovy_Unicorn
None if you buy from the store
kswck2
I remember taking a cruise years ago, to Cozumel,, Mexico. At the dock was a Huge store advertising Kahula for $3 a bottle. The Cruise Director told passengers NOT to buy there.
But of course some rich couple bought 3 cases. When they inspected it after leaving port, they found out they has bought 36 bottles of Mexican Tap Water-even that they couldn't drink. The glass the bottles were made from were worth more than what was In the bottles.