Liquor sales volume in Japan FY 2009-2018

The sales volume of alcoholic beverages in Japan amounted to around 8.3 million kiloliters in fiscal year 2018. This represented a decrease from over 8.5 million kiloliters in fiscal 2009. While the Japanese liquor industry is well-known for its high-quality rice wine (sake), top sellers in the domestic market are beer and liqueurs.

Liquor manufacturing in Japan

The alcoholic beverage industry represents an integral part of the Japanese food and beverage manufacturing sector. Major breweries and distilleries operating in the liquor industry double as leaders in the domestic foodstuff sector, with Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. spearheading the ranking among beverage manufacturers. The core product line of Asahi Holdings’ alcoholic beverage segment is the manufacturing and distribution of beer and beer-like beverages, which consolidates the Japanese brewing company’s position in the liquor market.

Japanese drinking habits

The Japanese liquor market encompasses a broad selection of beer-like beverages, traditional distilled liquors, and mixed drinks, among others. The preferred alcoholic drinks of consumers are beer and beer-like beverages such as ‘new genre beer’, contributing to the success of large breweries. However, the domestic production of beer has been on a continuous decline in recent years, sparked by consumers becoming more health-conscious.