Two beerlike nonalcoholic beverages on Wednesday obtained government recognition as a foodstuff with known health benefits, the first such designation for this group of products, despite a warning by an advisory panel that it might lead to more minors consuming alcoholic drinks.
The Consumer Affairs Agency approved Sapporo Breweries Ltd. and Kao Corp.'s application for the "tokuho" recognition, a mark which products can carry on packaging as "foods with specified health uses," for their respective canned drinks.
The first-ever tokuho nonalcoholic drinks may find a ready market with people who are unable to drink alcohol and drivers who must refrain from consuming alcohol but still want to feel as if they are drinking beer.