Japan: Liquor taxes raised on ‘3rd-category’ beer

The Japanese government raised liquor taxes on so-called "third-category" beer products on May 02, but retailers are still divided on whether to hike the prices of the beer-like sparkling drinks that have been enjoying strong sales due to their lower prices compared to the two other types of beer products, Kyodo News released on May 02.

Under the revised Liquor Tax Law, the taxes on third-category brew increased by 3.8 yen to 28 yen per 350-milliliter can. In contrast, the taxes on regular beer were lowered by 0.7 yen to 77 yen. The taxes on "happoshu" low-malt beer were left unchanged at 46.99 yen.

While major brewers have set new prices reflecting the revisions, major retailer Aeon Co. and supermarket chain Izumiya Co. said they will not raise the prices of third-category beer.

Other supermarket chains including Daiei Inc. and leading convenience store operators such as Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. said they would pass on the increase in taxes to consumers.

Beverages classified as third-category beer are made from non-malt ingredients such as soy protein and thus had been subject to lower liquor taxes than regular beer and happoshu by more than 50 yen and 20 yen, respectively, per 350 ml.

The government had decided on the liquor tax revision to simplify complex taxation rate categories that vary depending on raw materials and manufacturing methods. The revision reduced the number of liquor categories to four from 10, and narrowed the differentials in tax rates among them.

Some analysts point out that the Japanese government also signaled its intolerance for future products that take advantage of legal loopholes for lower prices - as third-category beer has been.

Industry officials anticipate the revision may be a temporary step and more drastic changes may be forthcoming to further narrow the tax differentials.

The revision also lowered taxes on refined sake by 14.8 yen but raised those on wine by 6.9 yen per 720 ml.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .