Several retailers raised their prices Thursday for wine and "happoshu" in light of a liquor tax hike that took effect the same day.
In line with the revised liquor law, the price of a 350-ml can of low-malt happoshu was raised in some stores to 145 yen, up 10 yen, while the price of a 500-ml can was raised to 201 yen, a 16 yen increase.
The tax hikes will not target regular beer, thus narrowing the price gap between beer and happoshu, whose selling point has been its low price tag.
There has been a varied response to the tax hike among supermarkets and convenience stores. FamilyMart Co. has left its price for a 350-ml can unchanged at 135 yen, while Lawson Inc. has raised the price to 145 yen.
As some 90 percent of happoshu customers also buy packed lunches, FamilyMart aims to boost its income in this sector by keeping happoshu prices unchanged.
Among supermarket chains, Aeon Co., which operates Jusco supermarkets, has left its happoshu prices unchanged, while Ito-Yokado Co. and Daiei Inc. have raised their prices.
Mercian Corp. and Sapporo Breweries Ltd. have meanwhile added 10 yen to the price of their most popular 720-ml and 750-ml bottles of wine.
As wine prices vary considerably from product to product, however, new prices reflecting the tax hike are expected to vary accordingly.
Tobacco taxes are due to be hiked in July.