Japan may soon run out of its most popular beer after a cyber attack forced Asahi to halt production. The company has been unable to process orders, make deliveries or provide customer service for four days, leaving shop owners warning that Asahi beers could be out of stock within days.
The disruption has hit supplies of Asahi Super Dry, the country’s best-selling beer. Convenience store chain Lawson told the Financial Times that shortages could begin as early as tomorrow, while another retailer said supermarkets could run out of Super Dry within two to three days and other Asahi products within a week.
The prospect of empty shelves is expected to trigger panic buying. Despite a long-term decline in beer consumption, Japan still drinks around 296.9 billion bottles a year, equal to 54 large bottles per person. Asahi sold 73 million cases of Super Dry in Japan in 2024, alongside 12 million cases each of its alcohol-free Style Free and Clear Asahi brands.
Asahi confirmed the cyber attack was limited to its Japanese operations, meaning its European manufacturing, including UK beer supplies, remains unaffected. The company said it is unclear when Japanese systems will be restored, but there is no evidence that customer data has been stolen.
The attack comes amid a series of major cyber incidents affecting global companies. Jaguar Land Rover was forced to suspend production after an August 31 attack, only beginning to restore systems this week, while Marks & Spencer said a spring cyber breach would cost it £300 million in profits.
