Your Lifecycle Week – fake news

Just when you thought it was safe to grab a can of your favourite beer, the news story comes out of a factory in Dongguan producing fake Budweiser. Local authorities estimate that the company output was about 600,000 cases a month. We are used to hearing of fake spirits at bars that offer very cheap drinks, or “free” beverages. So now we have to worry about even common beers. Best bet is to stick to beers that are not so mainstream, as the lower demand might mean less motivation for making a fake product. Spare a thought for your local pub though. Last month, two major distributors offered fake bottles of Australian wine. One was easy to pick, but the other required really close scrutiny to notice that it was not what it was promoted to be. While not a guarantee, the best rule to follow is: If it seems too cheap to be real, it is probably counterfeit. Be especially wary of spirits which are a favourite target of local “pirates”.