TRACIT Market Alert

• TRACIT Report : Prohibition, Illicit Alcohol and Lessons Learned from Lockdown
• Colombia Market Alert :  English / Español​
• Colombia Media Release :  English / Español​
• COVID-19 Illicit Alcohol Market Alert : English / Español
• COVID-19 Situational Briefing on Illicit Alcohol : English / Español
• TRACIT Media Release : English / Español

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Featured Report

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Featured Videos

​​TRACIT speaks to CNN en Español, warns governments that prohibition policies drive markets for illicit alcohol
Full story on CNN en Español
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IBRAC Webinar (29 July 2020). "Covid 19, economic crises and illicit trade in alcoholic beverages."
With TRACIT's Esteban Giudici

“La crisis de la COVID-19 ha incrementado el contrabando de alcohol y medicinas”, NTN24.com 
Interview with TRACIT's Esteban Giudici (@31 min)

Recommendations

Government actions need to be carefully considered and finely balanced in dealing with the challenges associated with COVID19. If new restrictive alcohol measures are being considered, governments should consult and cooperate with industry to ensure that any restrictions are temporary in nature, proportionate and sustainable. Any such measures should be accompanied by appropriate public health messaging and reinforced by responsible retail standards.
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​In the face of a health pandemic, such as COVID19, it is recommended that governments:
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• Avoid prohibition laws as emergency response measures to protect people from the spread of virus. The benefits are conjectural, while the negative consequences are many and counterproductive to interdependent health, employment, and economic objectives.
• Ensure availability and access to legitimate products that conform with social-distancing objectives without inducing demand for illicit substitutes.
• Avoid the imposition of “emergency tax” increases on alcohol. A quick fix approach could end up being as reckless as the imposition of prohibition laws, resulting in lower consumption of legal beverages, smaller pools of tax collections and an increase in demand for untaxed, cheaper illicit alternatives.
• Ramp up implementation of enforcement measures to ensure that illicit trade activities caused by the pandemic do not becomepermanent features of the post-pandemic economy.                  

MEDIA CENTER

​Colombia

• The consumption of alcohol in public spaces and all commercial establishments is banned
• Preventive measures by the Colombian goverment to help contain Covid19

South Africa

• Don't surprise us again, pleads liquor industry as Ramaphosa lifts sale ban
• The impact of banning alcohol during Covid-19
• SA booze, tobacco ban created new criminal networks
• South Africa’s Tobacco, Booze Ban Lit Up Illegal Trade
• Prohibitions: unintended consequences
• Alcohol industry during lockdown
• Liquor association urges easing on alcohol ban
• Illicit trade of alcohol bigger than ever
• SA’s alcohol ban explained

​Mexico

• El licor adulterado ha matado mexicanos en varios estados, pero su mercado crece en la pandemia
• ​Tracit: Prohibición de venta de alcohol promueve mercado ilícito​
• Yucatán extends dry law, prohibiting alcohol sales until May 15
• Mexico Banned Booze, Now 70 People Have Died of Tainted Alcohol
• At Least 70 Dead in Mexico From Drinking Tainted Alcohol

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India

• Illicit liquor trade
• Illegal Liquor Ruins India’s Buzz (And Health)

Nepal

• ​Nepal's Import Ban

Other

• Suman 203 las personas fallecidas por consumir alcohol adulterado, República Dominicana
• El comercio ilícito se propaga en Centroamérica
• Tracit: Bebidas alcohólicas deben ser un bien esencial
• Banning Alcohol Sales During the COVID-19 Pandemic Is a Terrible Idea​

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