Significant increase in production of the third beer before the tax rate hike Manufacturers September 19 14:11
Before the tax rate for beer-based beverages will be revised next month and the tax rate for the cheaper third beer will be raised, manufacturers are embarking on a significant increase in production in preparation for the last-minute demand.
The liquor tax rate for beer-based beverages differs between "beer", "happoshu", and "third beer", but from the 1st of next month, the highest beer tax will be reduced by 7 yen per 350 ml. The third beer will be raised by 9.8 yen.
Prior to this, retailers are rushing to buy a third tax-increasing beer, and manufacturers are planning a significant increase in production this month.
Of these, Kirin plans to increase the production of the third beer by about 20% compared to the same month last year, and the factories in each region continue to operate at full capacity.
In addition, Asahi and Sapporo are planning to increase production by about 30%, and Suntory by about 10%.
Sales of the third beer have been increasing recently due to the effect of the so-called "needing demand" due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and even after the tax increase, the situation will continue to be cheaper than beer etc. There is also the aim of further expanding sales in the wake of the last-minute demand for the virus.
The outline of the revision of the Liquor Tax Law is
The tax rates for beer-based beverages are currently different for "beer," "happoshu," and "third beer," but the tax rates will be gradually revised from next month and will be unified in 2026. ..
The current tax rate is 220,000 yen for the highest "beer" per kiloliter and 80,000 yen for the lowest "third beer". Converting this to 350 ml, there is a difference of 49 yen, 77 yen for beer and 28 yen for the third beer.
From the 1st of next month, beer will be reduced by 7 yen to 70 yen, while the third beer will increase by 9.8 yen to 37.8 yen, and the difference will be reduced to 32.2 yen.
The tax rate for beer-based beverages will be gradually revised thereafter, and will be unified to 54.25 yen per 350 ml in 2026, including low-malt beer.
This revision is also affecting the manufacturers' sales strategies, such as the beer maker launching new beer products with lower tax rates before the tax rate revision.
On the other hand, this tax reform will also change the tax rates for wine and sake.
On the 1st of next month, wine will be raised from the current 28 yen to 31.5 yen, sake will be reduced from 42 yen to 38.5 yen, and will be unified to 35 yen in 2023, all per 350 ml.