Master Grocers Australia CEO Martin Stirling joined Ben Fordham on 2GB’s Breakfast program on June 19, 2026, to discuss the rapidly growing illicit alcohol black market and the urgent need for government action before it mirrors the devastation of the tobacco wars.
Martin warned that organised crime is moving fast into black market alcohol, with Melbourne acting as the testing ground before the problem spreads nationally.
“Melbourne is the testing ground for organised crime. That is where they test out their latest business models, and then sadly it spreads to the rest of the country,” Martin said.
Martin raised serious concerns about the safety of black market alcohol products, noting reports of underground alcohol contaminated with methanol and brake fluid being sold through illegal pop-up shops — many of which also sell illicit tobacco.
He drew direct parallels between the illicit tobacco crisis and the emerging alcohol black market, warning that the same conditions — highly regulated, highly taxed products combined with weak enforcement — had allowed tobacco crime to flourish and were now creating the same opportunity for alcohol.
“We’ve got stats from the ABS which show that 80% of the market with tobacco is now supplied by organised crime. The same conditions now exist for alcohol,” he said.
Martin called for properly resourced agencies and more inspectors on the ground to enforce existing laws before the illicit alcohol market spirals out of control.
Related coverage: ‘Shut it down’ — Criminal gangs turning to illicit alcohol, 2GB
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