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In
Japan, beer is the most popular alcoholic
drink. And because of this golden beverage's
premium popularity, tax authorities have given
it a premium tax rate—the highest among
the various liquor categories, including wine
and spirits, and more than double that of
the U.K., the second-highest taxed country
for alcohol. Because it is the malt content,
and not the alcohol that effectively determines
the level of taxation for beers, brewers hit
on the clever idea of creating a new kind
of reduced-malt beverage called "happoshu."
Kirin Nodogoshi "Draft" has no wheat
or malt in its recipe, so it falls into a
different category, a lower rate for liquor
tax than "happoshu."
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| Japanese
beer drinkers pay around 40% tax on each can
of beer they consume. For this reason, there
is strong incentive for brewers in Japan to
create new brews that possess some of the qualities
of beer, but with new ingredients that reduce
the tax paid on each can. While many people
prefer the taste of these new products, they
do not mind at all that they also cost a whole
lot less, and help stretch a family budget.
You can look forward to many new products to
be added to this category in the future. |
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| The
logo mark of a large seal Kirin
created for the new beverage symbolizes
Kirin's assurance of taste and quality. |
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