A higher rate of sobriety has taken hold in Japan and it has its government very concerned..According to the government, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, bars, restaurants and other venues selling alcohol have seen sales of spirits fall to such an extent that liquor tax revenues have plummeted..Like countries all over the world, Japan maintained tough restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, closing public spaces and reducing business hours for restaurants..Izakayas – Japan’s version of a pub or tavern – were particularly hard hit, with the latest available figures showing sales halved from 2019 to 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry..With fewer opportunities to drink in public, the rate of “household consumption” — drinking at home — “increased significantly,” the ministry said..Apparently, it’s the younger generation, says the government, who are not drinking enough..Looks like the Japanese government thinks younger folks like to enter contests and has launched the ‘Sake Viva’ campaign, to be administered by the National Tax Agency..The campaign invites participants to submit ideas on how to “stimulate demand among young people” for alcohol through new services, promotional methods, products, designs and even sales techniques using artificial intelligence or the metaverse, according to the official competition website..“The domestic alcoholic beverage market is shrinking due to demographic changes such as the declining birthrate and aging population, and lifestyle changes due to the impact of COVID-19,” reads a statement on the website, adding the competition is aimed to “appeal to the younger generation … and to revitalize the industry.”.The contest includes promotional ideas for all types of Japanese alcohol, with applications open until September 9..Finalists will be invited to an expert consultation in October, before a final tournament in November in Tokyo. The winner will receive support for their plan to be commercialized, according to the tax office..But not everyone is happy with the plan and the tax agency is taking some hits online..“Are you kidding me?” one Twitter user wrote. “Staying away from alcohol is a good thing!”.Others think it’s inappropriate for a government agency to encourage young people to drink and it appeared the campaign had not considered health risks or sensitivity toward people dealing with alcoholism..Japan’s Health Ministry has in the past warned of the dangers of excessive drinking..In a post on its website last year, it called excessive alcohol consumption a “major social problem” that persisted despite a recent slowdown in consumption. And it urged people with unhealthy drinking habits to “reconsider” their relationship with alcohol..About 30% of people in their 40s to 60s drink regularly, meaning three days or more per week, the ministry said, finding young adults in their 20s have stood out as the exception with just 7.8% of them firing a few back three or more days a week..“In this way, the decline in drinking habits year by year is thought to be having an effect on the shrinking of the domestic market,” the ministry said..In a 2021 report, the tax agency said duties on liquor had been a major revenue source for the government for centuries, but had declined in recent decades..Japan received 1.1 trillion yen (CDN$104,411,560) in alcohol tax in 2021 totaling 1.7% of overall tax revenue, compared to 3% in 2011, and 5% in 1980..Japan lifted its state of emergency in October 2021, allowing restaurants to sell alcohol again and stay open later – but restrictions in some parts of the country remained in place until March this year..The country’s recovery since then has been slower than expected, hindered by rising inflation, the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and recent surges in COVID-19 cases that have led to prolonged restrictions..I have an idea for an entry into the contest, which I’m mulling about..I’m thinking the Japanese government could arrange a speaking tour of their country by two of the political ‘stars’ in North America, Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden..I have no statistics to support my supposition that just listening to Justin and Joe talk has increased the number of days drinking-age Canadians and Americans drink per week, but if it has, is anyone surprised?.And there would be no language barrier — even we don’t know what either of them is talking about..To the Japanese government and its National Tax Agency: “dou itashimashite.”
A higher rate of sobriety has taken hold in Japan and it has its government very concerned..According to the government, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, bars, restaurants and other venues selling alcohol have seen sales of spirits fall to such an extent that liquor tax revenues have plummeted..Like countries all over the world, Japan maintained tough restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, closing public spaces and reducing business hours for restaurants..Izakayas – Japan’s version of a pub or tavern – were particularly hard hit, with the latest available figures showing sales halved from 2019 to 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry..With fewer opportunities to drink in public, the rate of “household consumption” — drinking at home — “increased significantly,” the ministry said..Apparently, it’s the younger generation, says the government, who are not drinking enough..Looks like the Japanese government thinks younger folks like to enter contests and has launched the ‘Sake Viva’ campaign, to be administered by the National Tax Agency..The campaign invites participants to submit ideas on how to “stimulate demand among young people” for alcohol through new services, promotional methods, products, designs and even sales techniques using artificial intelligence or the metaverse, according to the official competition website..“The domestic alcoholic beverage market is shrinking due to demographic changes such as the declining birthrate and aging population, and lifestyle changes due to the impact of COVID-19,” reads a statement on the website, adding the competition is aimed to “appeal to the younger generation … and to revitalize the industry.”.The contest includes promotional ideas for all types of Japanese alcohol, with applications open until September 9..Finalists will be invited to an expert consultation in October, before a final tournament in November in Tokyo. The winner will receive support for their plan to be commercialized, according to the tax office..But not everyone is happy with the plan and the tax agency is taking some hits online..“Are you kidding me?” one Twitter user wrote. “Staying away from alcohol is a good thing!”.Others think it’s inappropriate for a government agency to encourage young people to drink and it appeared the campaign had not considered health risks or sensitivity toward people dealing with alcoholism..Japan’s Health Ministry has in the past warned of the dangers of excessive drinking..In a post on its website last year, it called excessive alcohol consumption a “major social problem” that persisted despite a recent slowdown in consumption. And it urged people with unhealthy drinking habits to “reconsider” their relationship with alcohol..About 30% of people in their 40s to 60s drink regularly, meaning three days or more per week, the ministry said, finding young adults in their 20s have stood out as the exception with just 7.8% of them firing a few back three or more days a week..“In this way, the decline in drinking habits year by year is thought to be having an effect on the shrinking of the domestic market,” the ministry said..In a 2021 report, the tax agency said duties on liquor had been a major revenue source for the government for centuries, but had declined in recent decades..Japan received 1.1 trillion yen (CDN$104,411,560) in alcohol tax in 2021 totaling 1.7% of overall tax revenue, compared to 3% in 2011, and 5% in 1980..Japan lifted its state of emergency in October 2021, allowing restaurants to sell alcohol again and stay open later – but restrictions in some parts of the country remained in place until March this year..The country’s recovery since then has been slower than expected, hindered by rising inflation, the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and recent surges in COVID-19 cases that have led to prolonged restrictions..I have an idea for an entry into the contest, which I’m mulling about..I’m thinking the Japanese government could arrange a speaking tour of their country by two of the political ‘stars’ in North America, Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden..I have no statistics to support my supposition that just listening to Justin and Joe talk has increased the number of days drinking-age Canadians and Americans drink per week, but if it has, is anyone surprised?.And there would be no language barrier — even we don’t know what either of them is talking about..To the Japanese government and its National Tax Agency: “dou itashimashite.”
