How to spot fake alcohol in Kenya: What to check before buying counterfeit drinks
By Valerian Khakayi, August 28, 2026Buying a bottle of alcohol may seem like a routine purchase, but taking a few moments to check whether it is genuine before paying could help you avoid counterfeit drinks.
It is worth noting that counterfeit alcohol can be made to look like familiar brands, making it difficult for consumers to tell whether what they are buying is genuine.
One of the tools available to consumers in Kenya is the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Soma Label app, which helps verify alcoholic beverages by reading the security features on official excise duty stamps affixed to alcohol bottles.
However, if you do not have internet access or cannot use the app, you can still examine the physical security features on the excise stamp for signs of irregularities.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Soma Label and what to check on an excise stamp when the app is unavailable.
- Step 1: Download the app
Android users can download Soma Label from the Google Play Store, while iOS users can download it from the Apple App Store.
Once installed, ensure you grant the app permission to use your smartphone’s camera, as it requires the camera to scan the codes.
- Step 2: Scan the excise stamp
Open the Soma Label app and locate the KRA excise stamp on the neck, cap or side of the alcohol bottle.
Position your phone’s camera over the Quick Response (QR) code or Data Matrix barcode printed on the stamp. Keep your hand steady until the app automatically captures and reads the code.
- Step 3: Interpret the results
Once the stamp has been scanned, check the information displayed by the app against the physical bottle in your hand.
KRA’s user guide indicates that a green gauge shows successful verification, while a failed verification produces a problem indication.
The app also provides product information that consumers can compare with the bottle, including the product name, volume, manufacturer or importer and stamp details.
- Genuine product
If the verification is successful, check that the information displayed on your phone matches the bottle.
Pay attention to the brand name, manufacturer or importer, product type, volume or capacity, product barcode and stamp serial number.
If the details correspond with the physical product, the verification has been successful.
- Counterfeit risk or mismatch
Be cautious if the app successfully scans the stamp but the information displayed does not match the bottle.
For instance, if the app identifies a different product, manufacturer or volume from what is physically in your hand, do not assume the drink is genuine.
- Problem detected
The Soma Label app can also flag a suspicious stamp or product.
If the verification raises concerns, avoid consuming the drink and use the reporting option provided in the app.
What if you do not have internet?
If you do not have an internet connection or access to the Soma Label app, you can still examine the physical security features of the KRA excise stamp for signs of irregularities.
KRA says its newer generation excise stamps were introduced with enhanced security features designed to deter counterfeiting.
Here is how to check if you do not have internet.
- Check for colour-changing features
Tilt the bottle under a light and carefully examine the excise stamp. KRA identifies colour-shifting features among the security elements used on its excise stamps.
A suspicious stamp may lack the expected security effect or appear like an ordinary flat print.
- Examine the fine details
Look closely at the stamp for security details such as microtext, fine lines and serial numbers.
KRA identifies microtext among the security features incorporated into its excise stamps. If the fine details appear unusually blurry or poorly printed, treat the product with caution.
- Inspect the stamp’s physical condition
Check the edges and surface of the stamp for anything unusual. KRA identifies micro-cuts among the security features used on its excise stamps.
If the stamp looks suspicious, damaged or inconsistent with the bottle, do not ignore the warning signs.
Visual inspection alone, however, should not replace official verification where the Soma Label app is available.
Before buying alcohol, take a moment to check the excise stamp and verify the product where possible.
If the information does not match, the stamp looks suspicious, or something about the bottle does not seem right, it is safer not to consume the drink.