Concerns about counterfeit alcohol have re-emerged once more, after some Kenyan consumer reportedly scanned a QR Code of a bottle of a certain local alcohol brand to check whether it was genuine, only for the tool to reportedly display advertisements for Samsung Galaxy phones.
The video has since gone viral online, with netizens demanding answers from relevant authorities so as to address the matter
It has also left many consumers questioning whether ordinary barcode-scanning applications can be trusted to verify alcoholic drinks.
The bamboozled consumers had expected the app to identify the product or provide details that could help prove whether the bottle was original, not to see a phone Advertisement.
As concerns about unsafe and counterfeit alcohol continue surge, consumers are looking for more reliable ways to check the drinks they buy.
Officials have advised the public to use the KRA Soma Label app when checking alcoholic products.
Consumers usually scan the QR code found on the Kenya Revenue Authority excise stamp attached to the bottle. The excise stamp is the official tax label placed on products such as alcohol, cigarettes and other excisable goods.
Unlike general scanning apps, the KRA verification system is meant to provide product information connected to the excise stamp.
It can show details such as the manufacturer, product batch and tax-stamp information.
This makes it a more dependable option for people who want to know whether an alcoholic drink has been legally produced and taxed.
Kenya has continued to face concerns over fake and illegal alcohol. Some consumers have reported seeing suspicious packaging, unusual labels and products sold at questionable prices.
Authorities have repeatedly urged Kenyans to verify excise stamps and report alcohol they believe could be fake.
The incident has since shown that just scanning an ordinary barcode does not prove that a bottle is genuine.