Combined domestic shipments of beer and "happoshu," its low-malt cousin, by Japan's five major brewers fell 9.2 percent in October from a year earlier, posting a third straight monthly drop, according to shipment figures released Thursday.
Beer and happoshu shipments by Kirin Brewery Co., Asahi Breweries Ltd., Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Suntory Ltd. and Orion Breweries Ltd. totaled 36.87 million cases. One case holds 20 633-ml bottles.
The brewers attributed the slide to a reduction in restaurant and bar outings amid the powerful typhoons and long spells of rain that occurred in the reporting month.
Shipments of regular beer fell 6.9 percent to 22.16 million cases, while those of happoshu dropped 12.3 percent to 14.71 million cases, a double-digit drop for the second consecutive month.