Japan’s National Tax Agency has launched a nationwide competition to devise new ways to encourage young people to drink more alcohol after-tax revenues from alcohol shrunk to their lowest level in decades.
Alcohol sales have been declining since their peak in 1995 and suffered a sharp fall at restaurants and bars during the pandemic, which brought tax revenues from the sale of alcohol down from around 5% of total revenue in 1980 to 1.7% in 2020.
However, the campaign to help “revitalize” the nation’s liquor industry has drawn criticism from health campaigners and was not coordinated with the health ministry, although the two say they are in close regular contact over alcohol and health issues.
In Donald Trump’s White House and broader orbit, there are three differing views on how to engage with Venezuela: one is focused on restoring democracy, another has embraced pragmatism, and a third supports military intervention. The view that prevails will likely reflect all three.
Republicans gain confidence in the country's direction as Democrats grow more pessimistic, underscoring deep partisan divides.
