Law and Self-Regulatory Code

It may seem a little surprising, but in Japan, the terms and definitions we use daily, such as sake, beer, and whiskey, are determined by the Liquor Tax Law.
Alcoholic beverages are manufactured and sold according to this Liquor Tax Law and related laws, but other laws concerning food in general, such as the Food Sanitation Law, also apply.
Furthermore, there are industry-specific regulations such as fair competition rules and voluntary standards.
Regarding the labels (displays) on alcoholic beverages that we see every day, there are various displays such as text, pictures, and patterns, but these displays fall into the following three categories:

■ Displays made by manufacturers as a means of providing information such as product descriptions and PR to help customers choose a product.
■ Displays that are legally required to be displayed.
■ Displays that are voluntarily established by the industry based on its own standards.

These displays are intended to help general consumers make informed choices when purchasing alcoholic beverages, so please read them carefully before buying.
The relevant laws and regulations concerning spirits and liqueurs are listed below.