“STOP! Under 20 Drinking” is a project to prevent Under 20 Drinking that began in 2005 under the leadership of the Brewers Association of Japan and its five member companies (Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Suntory Spirits Ltd., and Orion Beer Co., Ltd.).
All television commercials and advertising for alcoholic beverages are required to bear the “STOP! Under 20 Drinking” mark, and communications activities are conducted to teach the importance of preventing Under 20 Drinking to manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, convenience stores, mass market outlets, retailers and junior and senior high schools.
“STOP! Under20 Drinking” project
Damage from Under 20 Drinking
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is forbidden for persons under the age of 20 (minors).
Drinking by minors is prohibited under the Law Prohibiting Minors from Drinking because of the risks that alcohol poses to a growing body.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, in other words, an anesthesia. If you have little experience drinking and don’t know your “limit,” it is easy to drink too much, and in many cases this leads to acute alcohol poisoning. Another reason why alcohol is prohibited for minors is that their bodies still do not have adequate amounts of the enzymes that metabolize alcohol.
The most important reason, however, is that alcohol all by itself has an adverse impact on growing bodies. It has a significant impact on the brain cells of developing bodies and places young people at high risk for stunted growth and gonadal disorders (irregular menstruation, impotence, etc.). It also places you at higher risk of damage to organs such as the liver and pancreas. Perhaps even more frightening is the ease with which you can become an alcoholic when you start drinking at an early age.
Children have bright futures and big dreams ahead of them. Don’t destroy them by drinking too young just because it seems interesting.
The Law Prohibiting Minors
from Drinking
“Minor drinking prohibitive law” was enforced
from March 30. 1922.
Article 1
- ・Ingestion of alcoholic beverages is prohibited to persons Under 20 Drinking years of age (minors) (Article 1:1).
- ・Parents, guardians and supervisors of minors are obligated to restrain the ingestion of alcoholic beverages by minors if they are aware of it (Article 1:2).
- ・Businesses that sell and/or provide alcoholic beverages are prohibited from selling and/or providing alcoholic beverages to minors if they are aware that alcoholic beverages will be ingested by minors (Article 1:3).
- ・Businesses that sell and/or provide alcoholic beverages are required to check ages and take other such measures as are necessary to prevent the ingestion of alcoholic beverages by minors (Article 1:4).
Article 2
- ・Administrative actions may be taken as necessary with respect to the ingestion of alcoholic beverages by minors, including forfeiture and destruction of alcoholic beverages and equipment owned or in the possession of minors for the purpose of drinking. However, there are currently no provisions in laws and ordinances detailing the procedures for such administrative actions.
Article 3
- ・Businesses that sell and/or provide alcoholic beverages to minors knowing that they will be ingested by the minor himself are subject to a fine not to exceed 500,000 yen (Article 3:1).
- ・Parents, guardians and supervisors who knowingly failed to restrain the ingestion of alcoholic beverages by minors are subject to a fine (Article 3:2).
Article 4
- ・In the event that representatives, sales agents, employees, or the employees of outsourcees and subcontractors, etc. of business organizations that sell and/or provide alcoholic beverages to minors sell and/or provide alcoholic beverages to minors in the course of business, penalties shall be levied on both the persons committing the act and the business (concurrent liability).
Project profile
“STOP! Under20 Drinking”
mark