Consumption of Beer

The amount of consumption of beer was calculated from the National Tax Agency's statistical information. As you know, there are three types of beer as classified based on the Liquor Tax Act: beer, low-malt beer ("happoshu") and liqueur/other miscellaneous alcohol ("third category beer"). Because in the NTA's statistics, the amount of consumption is calculated according to classification based on the Liquor Tax Act, it was difficult to calculate the amount of "third category beer." Although practically all "other miscellaneous alcohol" is "third category beer," chuhai's are also included in the liqueur category and it was not possible to distinguish the quantity of chuhai's from the quantity of third category beer. Here, 60% of "other miscellaneous alcohol" has been estimated as the amount of liqueur consumption based on statistics prior to 2003, before "third category beer" came into the market.

The amount of beer consumption per adult is greatest in Kochi, with an annual 81 liters. Kochi is known
as a prefecture that enjoys drinking. Kochi is followed by Tokyo and Osaka. The amount of beer consumption is greater in urban areas with more opportunities to eat out. The amount may be slightly greater than the actual amount because there are believed to be many people who commute to Tokyo and Osaka from other prefectures and have drinks in Tokyo or Osaka after work before going home.

Overall, the amount of consumption of beer seems small in the central Honshu area, but no particular reason could be found.