How Leading Alcohol Brands Cut Counterfeiting By 60% Using Trackable Hologram Labels

Counterfeit spirits are a $3 billion crisis — here's the proven fix.

The global alcohol industry is under siege. Fake whisky, vodka and other premium spirits are flooding markets across Asia, Europe and Latin America. According to the OECD, the production of counterfeit alcohol is increasing by 20% each year, and the EUIPO has reported that one in four premium spirits sold online is fake.

The risk to distilleries and brand owners is clear: brand erosion, lost revenue and hazards to consumer safety. That’s why many leading alcohol brands are turning to Shenzhen Zhengbiao’s traceable hologram labels — a cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting solution proven to reduce incidents of fake products by up to 60% in controlled deployments.

🛡️ Why traditional security methods fail

Although QR codes and paper seals are commonly used to authenticate alcohol, they can easily be cloned and do not inspire consumer trust. What is needed is a multi-layered solution that is both visual and verifiable.

🔍 How do Zhengbiao’s custom hologram stickers work?

Our alcohol-grade holographic security labels offer physical and digital protection.

✅ Dual-layer authentication:

Visual layer: Brand-specific 3D holograms with kinetic effects, microtext and unique motifs.

Digital layer: Covert serial numbers that can be traced via blockchain or secure databases for batch-level tracking.

✅ Tamper-evident technology:

A void-effect adhesive that reveals 'OPENED' once removed and cannot be reapplied.

Thermochromic ink displays hidden patterns when bottles are chilled, making it ideal for spirits that are consumed cold.

✅ Alcohol-specific engineering

Water- and condensation-resistant; maintains integrity at 0°C and below.

FDA-compliant materials are safe for direct bottle contact.

Batch coding enables distribution tracking and the detection of grey market activity.

📈 Real-world case study: Scotch whisky brand cuts counterfeits by 60%.

A heritage Scotch whisky brand in the UK experienced an increase in counterfeit products, particularly on Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms. After adopting Zhengbiao’s custom hologram QR code stickers, however, the number of fake products seized each month dropped from 12 to 5.

- Monthly fake seizures dropped from 12 to 5.

- Retail audits confirmed 100% label authenticity

- Online resale price stability improved (+22% MSRP compliance).

- consumer trust and repeat purchase rates increased visibly.

“These holograms became our silent sales force, reassuring customers and making life difficult for counterfeiters.”

— Senior Brand Manager, [Name Withheld]

⚙ Rapid deployment at global scale

With a production capacity of eight million hologram labels per day, Zhengbiao enables alcohol brands to secure their bottles quickly without compromising on design, bottling speed or global logistics.

We offer:

🔄 24-hour sample delivery

🎨 A custom design service with a two-hour turnaround for digital mockups

• Compliance with major import/export security standards

✅ Key benefits recap for alcohol brands:

- Prevent counterfeit resale across digital and retail channels.

- Strengthen consumer trust and brand equity.

- Improve supply chain traceability

Meet global regulatory expectations.