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Illicit Alcohol in Victorian Off-Licence Retailers: A Preliminary Observational Study
Michala Kowalski1, Michael Livingston2, Jodie Grigg3
1National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Drug and Alcohol Review
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Illicit alcohol is available in Australian stores, with some products containing dangerous levels of methanol and plasticizers. This poses a significant public health risk and highlights the need for urgent research and policy intervention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Food Safety
- Illicit Markets
Background:
- Illicit alcohol sales represent 90% of Australia's alcohol tax revenue loss.
- Research on the unrecorded alcohol market in Australia is limited.
- The availability and safety of illicit alcohol in Australia are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immediate availability of illicit alcohol in Australia.
- To assess the safety of suspected illicit alcohol products.
Main Methods:
- A preliminary investigation involved visiting four licensed alcohol retailers in Melbourne.
- Three suspected illicit alcohol products and one control product were purchased.
- All four products underwent chemical testing for safety.
Main Results:
- Three out of four visited retailers stocked suspected illicit alcohol.
- These illicit products were the cheapest available in their category.
- Two tested products contained methanol and plasticizers exceeding safety standards.
Conclusions:
- Illicit alcohol is circulating and sold alongside legitimate products in licensed Australian retailers.
- This contravenes food safety, liquor, and tax regulations.
- Urgent, trans-disciplinary research is needed to understand and address the illicit alcohol market.
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