A nation of Tyrs

[jimmy olsen]

Are these people retarded? 

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/oct/02/counterfeit-goods-surge-uk

It is now a €1bn market across Europe, growing by the day, and one in which a new generation of brand-obsessed British consumers are prepared to risk their health, and even their lives, in order to save money. Counterfeit goods have gone mainstream.

A new report by accountants PwC reveals British adults admitting that they regularly buy fake designer clothes, bags, accessories and perfumes as well as potentially lethal counterfeit alcohol, medicines and cigarettes. Illegal copies of films, car parts and even dangerous electrical goods are also in big demand.

The report shows that 18% of consumers admit to buying fake alcohol, despite the presence of toxic solvents that can cause blindness and even death. Some 16% said they had bought counterfeit medicines – often useless or dangerous versions of well-known drugs such as Viagra or slimming pills – and 13% have bought imitation branded cigarettes, despite the obvious health risks of such products.

Consumers have clearly ditched their scruples in their enthusiasm to own a pair of hair straighteners with GHD written on the side, or headphones emblazoned with the Beats by Dr Dre logo. They told PwC researchers that they were more worried about their bank details being stolen by counterfeiters and dubious traders than by the prospect of being caught and prosecuted. They know goods are deliberate rip-offs of popular designer brands, but only a third of buyers worry about getting caught.

Counterfeit or "knock-off" goods have long been sold at car boot sales, pubs, markets or fairs, making it difficult for fraudsters to be traced. But fake merchandise has also moved online, presenting huge challenges for auction sites such as eBay, which are trying to crack down on counterfeiting and piracy.

The PwC report come two weeks after the UK's biggest single counterfeit raid, when nearly £3m-worth of fake goods were seized from market stalls in south Warwickshire following a joint agency operation which led to four arrests. More than 20 police officers, including members of the special constabulary for both Warwickshire and West Mercia forces, were involved in the all-day raid at Wellesbourne Market. Goods recovered from the market, vehicles, and homes that were subsequently raided included fake SuperDry T-shirts and jackets and copycat Ugg boots together with pirate DVDs, counterfeit branded trainers, watches, jewellery, make-up, electrical items and perfume.

Illicit trade and counterfeiting is a growing problem across the world, the report says. Estimates vary, but global sales of copycat goods are now put at $650bn a year.

In Europe alone, almost 40m products were impounded by EU customs in 2012, with an estimated value of €1bn, according to the EU Commission's annual report on customs actions.

Demand for must-have "branded" designer headphones and gadgets such as hair straighteners have fuelled sales of copycat devices to such an extent that there has been a sixfold increase in the number of counterfeit and potentially dangerous electrical goods seized in the UK in the past four years.

Professor Paul Wallace, chief medical advisor for the charity Drinkaware, said that commonly used substitutes for ethanol in fake spirits "include chemicals used in cleaning fluids, nail polish remover and automobile screen wash, as well as methanol and isopropanol which are used in anti-freeze".

The charity has recently issued fresh guidance on the dangers of drinking counterfeit booze to the hundreds of thousands of students who have just started the new university year. In a traditional seasonal crackdown council trading standards teams across the UK will again urge shoppers not to buy or consume counterfeit drinks in the run-up to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Consuming methanol can lead to blindness, and in one case last year was linked to the death of a man in Worthing, West Sussex, who drank a bottle of vodka he had brought back from Poland. Tests subsequently found the drink contained 40% methanol. In the Czech Republic, in September 2012, 26 people died as a result of drinking counterfeit vodka and rum laced with methanol.

London is the most fake-infested region. Scotland is a model of relative rectitude with significantly fewer fake purchases than the national average. The less affluent buy more fakes across the board. Young people are also more likely to buy counterfeit goods, with 60% of those in the 18-34 age group saying they bought pirated films and music and 55% buying clothes.

Mark James of PwC's anti-counterfeiting team, said: "Counterfeits have an obvious impact on profit and jobs, yet people increasingly see access to fakes as a normal, consumer choice. Companies invest significant amounts of time, money and effort in developing their products. Manufacturers and buyers of counterfeit goods strike right at the heart of that. Ultimately, companies are seeing their brand, reputation and revenues stolen."

[Ed Anger]

I say: they bought their ticket, let 'me crash!

[Agelastus]

I say: they bought their ticket, let 'me crash!

As a non-brand obsessed subject of Her Majesty I find myself compelled to agree with this sentiment.

I'm sure our politicians'll blame this all on the bankers as per normal, anyway.

[Grey Fox]

People are poor & still require a buzz. You do with what you have.

[garbon]

People are poor & still require a buzz. You do with what you have.

Is alcohol that expensive?

[merithyn]

People are poor & still require a buzz. You do with what you have.

Fuck that. Brew your own beer if you need a fix that badly.

[Josquius]

I've never bought fake alcohol. Supermarket own brand vodka is terrible enough

Knock off goods- meh, you get what you pay for, but knock off consumables- idiocy

Is alcohol that expensive?

In Britain yes. And the government keeps thinking the way to stop binge drinking is raising prices.

[The Brain]

Fake alcohol? In Sweden moonshine is the preferred solution for poors AFAIK, not buying fake stuff.

[Grey Fox]

People are poor & still require a buzz. You do with what you have.

Is alcohol that expensive?

I don't know. I'm not a Brit & I am a teetotaler.

[garbon]

Is alcohol that expensive?

In Britain yes. And the government keeps thinking the way to stop binge drinking is raising prices.

I remember as a student that liquor was expensive which led to me drinking a lot of beer and wine.

[Richard Hakluyt]

The figures are suspiciously high, especially since the market is rated at only €1bn for all of Europe, looks like someone wants to create a stir.

[Agelastus]

Is alcohol that expensive?

In Britain yes. And the government keeps thinking the way to stop binge drinking is raising prices.

Another of my rare moments of agreement with Tyr, here. At best binge drinkers will simply substitute low grade spirits for the "cheap" beers and ciders, at worst we'll simply manage to put more money in criminals pockets as consumers turn to them in a "mini-prohibition" type way.

Oh, and the most likely outcome is that regular drinkers are going to be affected more than the binge drinkers as the price of all types of legal alcohol lurch up to maintain the differentials while the Treasury grins at the increased revenues the general price hikes cause.

And since we've had a "binge drinking" problem for at least 300 years ("blue ruin" etc.) and seem to have survived it so far I'm not particularly impressed by the amount of time all parties waste on the issue.

[Richard Hakluyt]

The government should take a tip from Hogarth and reduce (remove IMO) duty on beers and ciders below 5% alcohol content which cause far less damage than the nasty substitutes often favoured by the young or poor.

[merithyn]

Again I say, brew your own.

[Josquius]

Again I say, brew your own.

That takes some pretty expensive stuff and a lot of space.
I've wanted to brew my own for years but I've never had a place big enough.