Those round-shaped magenta discs that, since 2006, have adorned the labels of UK spirits and wine bottles, as a visual proof of duty paid, now look set to disappear, following a government announcement that the discs will be abolished once a review by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has taken place.

Microsoft Italy and the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS – the Italian Mint) have launched a strategic collaboration based on artificial intelligence to protect the authenticity of Italian products from counterfeiting. One of the pilot projects for this collaboration relates to the most exported Italian wine in the world, but also the most imitated: Prosecco.

The liquor industry in India is a major source of excise revenue that needs protecting against non-compliance and illicit trade. To this end, two decades ago, the Indian state of Kerala introduced hologram- embedded security tax labels on Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL).

The state of Uttarakhand in India has invited bids for full polyester holographic tax stamps to replace paper-based stamps on alcohol products, amid protests that the polyester stamps contravene a country-wide government ban on single- use plastic items below 100 microns in thickness.

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has announced it will be expanding the use of excise tax stamps to a broader range of excisable products beyond cigarettes, following a 2021 amendment to the country’s Customs and Excise Act.

Established in 1952, the WCO (World Customs Organisation) is the global centre of customs experience, representing 185 customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.

In India, each state has the power to control and regulate its own liquor trade. Given that the country comprises 29 states and seven union territories, each with their own set of laws, this presents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry – a challenge that is further exacerbated by the limitations placed on the movement of alcohol between states.

Sri Lanka’s Commissioner General of Excise, M J Gunasiri, has announced that excise revenues from arrack and other alcoholic beverages have plummeted by 40%.

The Indian state of Rajasthan is implementing holographic tax stamps and an end-to-end traceability system on liquor products, to allow the state excise department to track and trace each bottle and case of liquor.

Counterfeit liquor, which for years has been a problem for connoisseurs of fine wine, champagnes, and single-malt scotch, has started to become an issue for America’s fine brown liquor – bourbon.