Cartel-suspected brewers held beer prices steady after 2023 tax cut

Tokyo – Japan’s four major beer companies, suspected of price collusion, kept shipping prices unchanged after the 2023 tax cut of ¥19 per liter of beer, citing higher costs, sources said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, they all implemented a price hike of ¥20 per liter in 2025, according to the sources.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission is investigating a possible cartel regarding shipping prices among Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Suntory Spirits and Sapporo Breweries.

Since 2020, there have been three tax cuts for beer. In October 2023, the tax was reduced by ¥19 per liter, but the four brewers offset the cut by reflecting a rise in the cost of collecting containers, the sources said.

“All four companies kept prices unchanged despite the tax cut, which was totally strange and not understandable at all,” said one wholesaler official. “It was so outrageous, but we couldn’t help but follow the makers’ price revisions.”

Regarding their price hikes in October 2022 and April 2025, questions were raised at semiannual meetings between beer makers and wholesalers, another wholesaler official said.

On Oct. 7, the commission searched the four companies’ headquarters and other locations on suspicion of violating the antimonopoly law. The watchdog is investigating the case with a view to filing a criminal complaint with prosecutors.