Total domestic shipments of beer and beerlike drinks fell 4 percent in January from a year earlier to 21.08 million cases, the second-lowest on record for the reporting month as cold weather and heavy snowfall further dampened demand, data by five major brewers showed Friday.
Shipments also marked a year-on-year fall for the second consecutive month. By category, regular beer shipments fell 4.7 percent to 10.44 million cases, while those of “happoshu” low-malt beer plunged 12.7 percent to 3.40 million cases.