"Japan Expected to Ban Alcohol Sales in Restaurants if State of Emergency Reissued"

Daily COVID-19 Cases Surpass 5,000, Prompting Strong Measures
All-Day Alcohol Sales Ban... Small Business Owners Expected to Protest

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the spread of COVID-19 has recently surged again, the Japanese government, preparing to reissue a state of emergency, is reportedly considering banning the sale of alcoholic beverages inside restaurants. Previously, during the two state of emergency periods in Japan, the sale of alcohol was never prohibited, so conflicts between health authorities and small business owners are expected. Despite concerns over merchants' backlash, as Japan's daily confirmed cases have surpassed 5,000, Japanese health authorities are expected to enforce the ban on alcohol sales.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 22nd, Tokyo Metropolitan Government is reportedly coordinating to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants within the prefecture if a COVID-19 state of emergency is declared. Tokyo had requested the government to declare a state of emergency the day before, and the Japanese government has also announced that it is considering reissuing the state of emergency.

Tokyo is reportedly negotiating with the government to ban alcohol sales in restaurants all day and to limit business hours until 8 p.m. Tokyo declared states of emergency twice, in April last year and January this year, but alcohol sales in restaurants were never banned. Because of this, strong conflicts between health authorities and small business owners are expected.

Along with Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture, which also requested the government to declare a state of emergency, is reportedly proposing to the government a ban on alcohol sales in restaurants during the state of emergency, limiting weekday business hours until 8 p.m., closing on weekends, and even a full closure of restaurants, according to the Asahi Shimbun. Osaka Prefecture also did not impose bans on alcohol sales or closures during the previous two state of emergency periods.

The Japanese government plans to hold a COVID-19 task force meeting on the 23rd to decide on declaring a state of emergency targeting four metropolitan local governments: Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo Prefecture, and Kyoto Prefecture. The state of emergency period is expected to start on the 25th or 26th of this month and last until the 11th or 16th of next month.

According to NHK's tally, 5,291 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed nationwide in Japan the previous day, surpassing the 5,000 mark. It is reported that this is the first time in about three months since January that Japan's daily confirmed cases have exceeded 5,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.