Alcoholic drinks to be sold at most convenience stores
Mainichi
Convenience store chain operators aim to expand the sale of alcoholic drinks to almost all of their outlets across the country by the end of this year after the recent easing of the licensing regulation.
Japan basically abolished restrictions on grants of alcoholic drink-selling licenses to new market entrants in 2003. But a new law was soon enacted to maintain the restrictions in many regions as a way to protect mom-and-pop liquor shops.
As the law expired at the end of August this year, Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and other convenience chains have started to apply for licenses in the hope that full introduction of alcoholic drinks to their stores will help to shore up their sluggish sales.
At the end of February, five major chains had some 5,000 unlicensed stores, which accounted for 15 pct of their total outlets....more...
