The Deadly War of “Duchess” and “Honey”: Exploring the Opportunities for Counterfeit Alcohol in Different Social Settings

• In Event: The Dynamics of Food Crime

Abstract

This paper analyses the opportunities for the production and distribution of counterfeit alcohol in Eastern Europe (Ukraine) and by Eastern European workers (in East Anglia, UK). Studies suggest that the highest rates of unofficial alcohol consumption could be found in low-income countries with high levels of corruption. It is also noted that price and affordability are the main factors driving demand for smuggled and cross-border alcohol (Snowdon, 2012). This paper builds on the ideas of rational choice and routine activity perspectives in order to analyse the production and distribution of fake alcohol. The paper discusses the results of two cases studies. The first case study in Eastern Ukraine considers the situational predisposition and opportunistic nature of the shadow alcohol economy. The second case study in East Anglia suggests the way cultural habits cross borders and inform the choices of the alcohol consumption of migrant workers.

Author

• Anna Markovska, Anglia Ruskin University, UK