Everything Costs More — Except Beer in Japan: Gearoid Reidy

Some 4,600 grocery items are becoming more expensive this month in Japan as the country’s food and beverage makers continue to pass on costs amid a once-in-a-generation inflation surge. Beer, however, is the notable exception.

A 350-milliliter can of brew costs drinkers about 7 yen (5 cents) less from October, thanks to changes in the country’s tax system. But cheaper suds aren’t a ploy for political support. Instead, it’s a long-overdue overhaul to Japan’s convoluted liquor tax, which for decades has incentivized brewers to prioritize low-quality products.

It might seem odd to reduce taxes on alcohol while many countries are imposing minimum prices or lifting levies, ...