Changes On Tap for Japan's Beer Tax

摘要

In Japan, a nation of epicures, the local beers aren't always palate pleasers. Connoisseurs blame the taxman. The Finance Ministry imposes higher taxes on drinks with greater malt content. So the biggest breweries, including Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. and Kirin Holdings Co., sell knockoffs, called happoshu (meaning bubbly spirits), or third beer, that may use peas, corn, or soybeans to reduce the amount of flavorful malt. "A lot of time, energy, and money has been wasted coming up with some really bad drinks-and it's because of the tax system," says Tatsuo Aoki, owner of the Tokyo bar Popeye.