Japan Actually Encouraging Young Adults To Drink More Alcohol

Concerned about falling alcohol tax revenue, as well company profits, the government of Japan is now literally encouraging young adults to drink more alcohol.  Yes, you read that right.  They are even going so far as to hold a contest.  Apparently, alcohol consumption among young people has been falling since the 1990s, and even more so recently, with tax and business revenues falling along with it.

But most surprisingly of all, they are still NOT planning on lowering their drinking age to 18 to match their new age of majority.  They lowered their general age of majority earlier this year from 20 to 18, but still kept their smoking and drinking ages at 20, because reasons.  Or something.  Yes, really.

Stranger than fiction indeed!  And not nearly enough (facepalm) in the world to cover this!

Japan Lowers Age Of Majority From 20 To 18, But There's A Catch

Japan has decided, for the first time since the Meiji Restoration, to finally lower the legal age of majority (adulthood) to 18, effective April 1, 2022.  But before anyone starts celebrating, note that the drinking age, smoking age, and gambling age will all still remain at 20, because reasons.  Really.  Despite the fact that the age limit will now be 18 for literally ALL other adult rights and responsibilities, including, but not limited to, being tried and punished as an adult.

So for 18-19 year old young adults, this feels like a cruel April Fool's Day joke at best.