Japan: Beer shipments dropped by 4.7% to lowest level since 1992

Shipments of beer in September by five major Japanese manufacturers, including low-malt beverages, dropped 4.7 percent from the year earlier to the lowest level since an industry organization began compiling statistics in 1992, officials said October 12, Mainichi Daily News posted October 12.

Bad weather and a campaign against drink-driving launched by the restaurant industry following a fatal car crash caused by a local government worker in Fukuoka are believed to have discouraged consumers from drinking beer, industry sources said.

Last month, the five companies shipped 40.95 million crates of 20 large beer bottles, including low-malt beer that is not classified as beer under tax laws, according to the Brewery Association of Japan.

Kirin Brewery Co. was the No. 1 brewer over the January-September period, with a market share of 38 percent, followed by Asahi Breweries, Ltd. at 37.3 percent.

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