Coca-Cola launches first boozy drink in Japan


Team Udayavani, May 28, 2018, 2:50 PM IST

Japan: Coca-Cola launched its first ever alcoholic drink today in Japan – a fizzy, lemon-flavoured concoction laced with spirits that seeks to capitalise on the growing popularity of “chuhai” alcopops enjoyed especially by young women.

Although the US firm dabbled in the wine business in the 1970s, the experiment in Japan is “unique” in the company’s 125-year history, said Coca-Cola Japan president Jorge Garduno.

From today, three new “Lemon-Do” drinks – containing three, five and seven percent alcohol will be available in the southern Kyushu region of Japan.

A 350-millilitre can set you back 150 yen (USD 1.40).

“This is a pilot project in the region which has a sizable market,” Masaki Iida, spokesman for Coca-Cola’s Japanese unit, told AFP. He declined to reveal the exact spirit in the drink, as the recipe is a closely guarded secret.

Coca-Cola product developers got the idea after visiting Japanese-style “izakaya” pubs, where they discovered that lemon-flavoured drinks are very popular, according to the firm’s website.

The popular “chuhai” drinks, which contain vodka or a distilled, grain-based spirit called “shochu”, come in a range of flavours such as grape, strawberry, kiwi and white peach. They range in strength from between three and nine percent and are particularly popular with young drinkers, especially women.

Coca-Cola is wading into an already competitive market, where major Japanese companies such as Suntory, Kirin and Asahi dominate the shelves.

Japan’s firm’s president has already dampened hopes of people hoping to get a tipple outside Japan, saying there are no plans to launch “Lemon-Do” outside of the country.

However, the push is seen as part of a broader campaign to diversify beyond sodas as health concerns see consumers in the US and other developed markets weaning themselves off sweet drinks and diet colas. 

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

BJP slams move to make Karnataka CM as RDPR varsity chancellor replacing Guv

Heavy rains expected in north, central Kerala in next few days

Karnataka cabinet expansion unlikely: Shivakumar

Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks urgent clearances for two irrigation projects

Report on Sambhal mosque survey likely to be submitted to local court; security tight in district

CCI orders probe against Google, affiliates for ‘unfair’ business practices in gaming apps’ listing on Play Store

Mahayuti leaders finalize power sharing pact with Amit Shah; CM’s name awaited

Related Articles More

Genetic vulnerability for low insulin, unhealthy fat major causes for diabetes in South Asians: Study

Study links overthinking to ‘constant communication’ between brain’s fear-centre, social behaviour

Mangaluru: Campco opposes WHO’s claim of arecanut being carcinogenic

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

World COPD Day: Know your lung function

MUST WATCH

Grafting

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing


Latest Additions

BJP slams move to make Karnataka CM as RDPR varsity chancellor replacing Guv

Heavy rains expected in north, central Kerala in next few days

‘Prasad’ in temples: Supreme Court refuses to examine plea raising food quality concerns

Karnataka cabinet expansion unlikely: Shivakumar

Security guard killed in hit-and-run incident in Kengeri

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.