Producers of spirits and wine have intensified their campaign against illicit alcohol in the Philippines as they noted consumer preference toward premium, high-quality alcoholic beverages has opened new opportunities for counterfeiters.
The “Drink Authentic, Enjoy Responsibly” is a campaign by the Alliance Against Counterfeit Spirits supported by the Asia Pacific International Spirits and Wine Alliance and the Alcoholic Beverage Alliance of the Philippines aimed at promoting consumption of safe alcohol through authentic products.
The drive will help educate consumers on the harm of counterfeit alcohol on one’s health and business.
“Counterfeit alcohol production and the illegal importation of alcohol are activities carried out by criminal networks that are often linked to other illicit activities,” the groups said in a statement yesterday.
Rowel Barba, director-general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said counterfeit alcohol “not only cheats all of us by robbing legitimate businesses of revenue and the public of tax revenues, it also endangers the lives of consumers.”
The groups cited data from the World Health Organization which said 20 to 30 percent of alcohol consumed in the Philippines is “unrecorded.” This includes homemade alcohol, smuggled goods, and counterfeit products.
In September 2023, the National Bureau of Investigation confiscated 6,562 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, worth up to P 96 million, during operations in five areas across Pasay, Parañaque, Manila, Quezon City, and Aklan province.
In 2021, IPOPHL helped initiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that brings together e-commerce companies and IP owners to establish a code of practice to combat counterfeit goods, including alcohol. At present, IPOPHL continues to facilitate the E-Commerce MOU which is now backed by nearly 50 signatories.
