The Liberal Democratic Party's tax panel decided Tuesday to raise the tax on beerlike drinks not classified as beer or low-malt "happoshu" in the latest clash between the revenue-hungry government and the beer industry.
The yet-to-be-classified drinks, also called "third-category beers," would see their taxes go up 3.8 yen per can, when the panel's decision, to be included in the ruling coalition's tax reform outline Thursday, is reflected in the liquor tax system in May, the panel members said.
The tax on a 350-ml can of Sapporo's Draft One, for instance, will rise from a little more than 24 yen to about 28 yen.