They didn’t tell me. Oh, I’m not considered “young” anymore. LOL.
From The Blaze:
The Japanese have been drinking much less on average, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas in 1995, a person would on average consume roughly 26 gallons a year, that amount fell to 19.8 gallons in 2020. Since 1.7% of Japan’s tax revenue derives from taxes on alcohol, this drop in alcohol consumption is regarded by the country’s National Tax Agency as a problem. Less drinking means less revenue — a fact the NTA finds hard to swallow with the country facing a $348 billion deficit.
The Japan Times reported that Japan’s liquor tax revenue experienced a historic drop in 2020, falling by nearly $812 million. The pandemic’s impact on restaurants and bars that would otherwise have served alcohol is said to be partly to blame.
The NTA also believes social factors to have been responsible. Those who began to work from home are believed to have begun questioning “whether they need to continue the habit of drinking with colleagues to deepen communication.”