Liquor production volume in Japan FY 2011-2020

In fiscal year 2020, the production volume of liquor in Japan fell below eight billion liters for the seventh consecutive year, with around 7.5 billion liters. The Japanese liquor market encompasses a variety of low-alcohol mixed drinks and hard liquors, with beer and liqueurs representing the staple products of the alcoholic drinks production.

Beer in Japan

Even though beer and beer-like beverages are the preferred alcoholic beverages of consumers, changing trends in drinking habits have been impacting the market. While around one third of Japanese still consume beer at least once a week, rising tax rates and a growing health consciousness have been slowing market growth.

Liqueur in Japan

Liqueurs in Japan refer to a broad spectrum of liquors with an alcohol content of over two percent. Apart from general liqueur, the category includes mixed drinks such as highballs and sours. Lower tax rates coupled with the large variety of commercially available products have been boosting the popularity of liqueurs. With sales on a gradual increase in recent years, liqueurs are the main contenders for overthrowing beer as the top seller in the domestic alcoholic beverage market.