Beer paradise America

KIRIN ICHIBAN SHIBORI 24CANS 12.OZ.X24  $20.05(1543 yen) in the U.S.

KIRIN ICHIBAN SHIBORI 24CANS 12.OZ.X24  $57.01(4390 yen) in Japan.

Can you believe the differences?

As you know, the U.S is known for beer paradise country along with Germany and American people enjoy drinking a lot of kinds of beers with cheaper price compared to Japanese people. Since I came here in LA, I don't care about beer price and enjoy drinking beer every day.

The U.S had a history of dry law and then the major brewers created a monopoly. How did the U.S become beer paradise country?

The big differences between the U.S and Japan are mainly …

① Self brewing is possible in the U.S

Self brewing is accepted in the federal law from title 78.

Brewers increased explosively since this law was enforced.

Most American brewers like Samuel Adams started from home brewers.

They created a variety of beer such as American Peer yells.

The beer lovers make beer and that means their beer is really delicious.

② The beer tax is really low in the U.S

As for the beer tax burden rate, of course Japan is the top 41.7% and California is 10%, as for in Germany it's only 6%.

In addition, If their brewing is in small quantities, their beer tax is really cheaper in the U.S. Meanwhile, Japanese beer tax uses a unified rate regardless of it's quantities. Moreover, there is 30% of liquor tax reduction system for small brewers of sake, shouchu and wine.  I think that making beer has the side of the industrial products in the manufacturing method and if making beer a lot, it makes the profit a lot. Therefore, the taxation system depending on brewing quantities is considerably logical. It's the same system as income tax in Japan.

③ There is not a limit of the minimum brewing in the U.S

In Japan, brewers have to make beer more than 60 kl per year otherwise, Japanese government don't allow them to make beer.

It seems strange rule at all.

These are three big differences between the U.S and Japan.

Can Japan do a similar way, too?

I don't think so, because Japanese government wouldn't change the current rule.If it's changed, they need to find other tax revenue.15years ago, one of Japanese brewer-Suntory released a low-malt beer (Happou shu) called "Suntory Hops", because its tax was much cheaper than beer.It became popular among beer lovers. However, Japanese government increased the low malt beer tax. Even Japanese brewers released a new type of low malt beer called (Daisan-no beer), Japanese government changed tax rate again.

With these in mind, I don't think Japanese people can enjoy beer with cheaper price like the U.S in the future.

In addition, more young Japanese are moving away from drinking beer.

So, I'm worried that Japanese beer industry will decline under the present system. I heard a lot of micro brewers went bankrupt already.

Japanese government should accept the self brewing.

Japanese government should change the beer tax rate much cheaper.

Japanese government should abolish with a limit of the minimum brewing.

I think it's urgent to call back Japanese beer lovers and revitalize the beer consumption by easing regulations and promoting free competition.

Revised on Nov 29