Fact‑Check: Viral Claim of Fake Alcohol in South Africa Proven False

When Africa Check examined a February 22, 2023 tweet warning of illegal fake alcohol produced in South Africa, the fact‑checkers found the story to be a complete fabrication.

The post, shared widely on Facebook and Instagram, featured seven grainy photographs and a caption that read, “Beware of fake alcoholic beverages being manufactured illegally in South Africa.” It soon sparked panic, especially among tourists and expatriates who feared ingesting dangerous spirits.

But here’s the twist: the images weren’t shot in South Africa at all. three originated from Ivory Coast, two came from Cameroon, and the remaining three could not be traced to any South African location.

Background of the Viral Claim

The tweet first appeared on the personal account of an unnamed user on 22 February 2023. Within hours, shares swelled to over 12 000, prompting several news outlets in the continent to run parallel stories without independent verification.

Meta, the parent company of the platforms, flagged the post under its third‑party fact‑checking program. As part of that effort, Meta directs content rated “false” to be demoted in users’ feeds, limiting its reach.

How Africa Check Unraveled the Truth

Investigators started by reverse‑image searching each of the seven photos. The first three matched a 2021 news story about an illicit distillery in Ivory Coast that had been busted by local authorities. The next two were traced to a French‑language report from Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, describing a raid on a counterfeit liquor warehouse.

The remaining three pictures appeared in a 2020 blog about generic bottling equipment, with no geographic tags. No evidence linked any of the visuals to South Africa, Kenya, or Nigeria as some variations of the claim suggested.

After compiling the data, Africa Check assigned the story a “false” rating on 15 March 2023 and submitted a detailed report to Meta, which subsequently reduced the post’s distribution.

Real Illegal Alcohol Operations in Cameroon and South Africa

While the tweet was bogus, the problem it hinted at is very real. In March 2023, police patrols in Cameroon uncovered a counterfeit liquor factory hidden inside a warehouse in Yaoundé. Officers seized a barrel of pure ethanol, mislabeled caps, dyes, and even adulterated champagne bottles. Among the contraband were small bags of cannabis, suggesting a broader criminal network.

The raid resulted in the arrest of a man and a woman, both between 30 and 38 years old. They were photographed standing amid stacked boxes of fake spirits, a scene that later resurfaced in the viral claim.

Fast forward to 8 September 2025, when the South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (SALBA) warned that counterfeit alcohol manufacturing had become “increasingly sophisticated.” The warning followed a police operation in the Cape Winelands town of Klapmuts, where the Maitland Flying Squad intercepted a convoy along the R44 highway.

According to spokesperson Wesley Twigg, officers found industrial‑grade distillation equipment, 20 × 1,000‑liter white containers, empty bottles, and a cache of ethanol enough to produce thousands of illicit drinks. All seven suspects were Somali nationals – five men aged 25‑43 and two women aged 20 – who were taken into custody on the spot.

Global Context: INTERPOL’s Operation Opson VII

Illegal alcohol isn’t just a local nuisance; it’s a transnational menace. Between 1 December 2017 and 31 March 2018, INTERPOL spearheaded Operation Opson VIIInternational, targeting counterfeit food and drink in 67 countries.

• 3,620 tonnes and 9.7 million liters of hazardous fake beverages were seized.
• The operation generated roughly €55 million in estimated losses for legitimate producers.
• Counterfeit alcohol accounted for the single largest seizure category.
• 705 search warrants, 749 arrests, 49 criminal networks dismantled, and 66 illegal factories shut down.

The findings underscored how cheap, internet‑sourced equipment and high‑resolution printing have lowered the barrier to entry for sophisticated counterfeiters. A 2023 TRACIT Global Report echoed this, noting that modern packaging can be indistinguishable from genuine brands, a fact that fuels consumer confusion and health risks.

Why the Fact‑Check Matters for Social Media

When false claims like the 2023 tweet go unchecked, they can fuel xenophobia – pointing fingers at South Africa, Kenya, or Nigeria – and erode public trust in legitimate safety warnings. By downgrading the post, Meta aims to curb viral misinformation while still allowing the fact‑check report to be visible.

Moreover, Africa Check’s guidance for publishers – which includes steps to correct the narrative, add context, and label the original content as false – helps media outlets maintain credibility. In practice, several regional news sites have updated their stories to reflect the fact‑check findings, reducing the risk of readers being misled.

What’s Next? Monitoring and Enforcement

Authorities in both Cameroon and South Africa have pledged to intensify inspections of small‑scale distilleries, especially those operating near major transport corridors. SALBA plans to launch an awareness campaign for retailers, urging them to verify product authenticity using barcode scanners and to report suspicious batches.

On the digital front, Meta has announced a partnership with additional fact‑checking bodies across Africa, aiming to increase the speed of false‑information detection to under 24 hours. If successful, the move could set a new standard for how social platforms handle health‑related rumors.

In the meantime, consumers are advised to purchase alcohol only from licensed vendors, check for tampered seals, and stay wary of “too‑good‑to‑be‑true” price offers – especially during holiday seasons when counterfeiters tend to surge.