东京（共同社报道）——据知情人士透露，日本反垄断监管机构周三对国内四大啤酒企业的办公场所展开了搜查，怀疑这些企业涉嫌违反反垄断法，通过结成卡特尔联盟来抬高啤酒及类似酒类产品的价格。
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's antitrust watchdog on Wednesday searched the offices of the country's four major brewers on suspicion of violating the antimonopoly law by forming a cartel to raise the prices of beer and beer-like drinks, a source familiar with the matter said.
这是日本公平交易委员会首次对食品饮料行业实施强制调查，涉事企业包括朝日啤酒、麒麟啤酒、札幌啤酒以及三得利酒业。
It is the first compulsory investigation by the Japan Fair Trade Commission involving food and beverage companies, with Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries and Suntory Spirits targeted.
据该知情人士称，这四家企业均占据着较大的市场份额，据指控它们在较长时间内存在共谋行为：各公司的销售代表定期会面以交换信息，并就啤酒及类似酒类产品——包括低麦芽啤酒以及价格更为低廉的“第三类”类似啤酒饮料——的提价时机与幅度进行协调。
The four companies, which hold large shares of the market, are alleged to have colluded over an extended period by having sales representatives meet to exchange information and coordinating on the timing and size of price increases for beer and beer-like drinks, including low-malt beer and cheaper "third category" beer-like beverages, the source said.
据信，这些公司的代表在参加日本啤酒协会每月左右举办一次的例行聚会后，还会私下举行会议讨论提价事宜。作为调查的一部分，日本公平交易委员会似乎也对该协会的办公场所进行了搜查。
Those company's representatives are believed to have held secret meetings to discuss price increases after they attended regular gatherings held about once a month by the Brewers Association of Japan. The FTC also appears to have searched the association as part of its investigation.
根据日本国税厅的数据，2024年日本国内啤酒及低麦芽啤酒的销售额总计约1.6万亿日元（约合100亿美元）。
According to the National Tax Agency, domestic sales of beer and low-malt beer totaled about 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in 2024.
日本公平交易委员会依据法院签发的搜查令有权搜查并扣押证据；鉴于此案可能对消费者产生广泛影响，该机构显然认为此案性质极为严重，并可能考虑向检察机关提起刑事控告。
The FTC, utilizing its authority to search for and seize evidence with a warrant issued by a court, has apparently judged the case to be particularly serious given its potential broad impact on consumers and may consider filing a criminal complaint with prosecutors.
四家企业均承认正接受反垄断监管机构的调查，并表示将予以配合。
All four companies acknowledged that they are being investigated by the antitrust watchdog, saying they will cooperate with the probe.
2022年10月、2023年10月以及2025年4月，这四家啤酒企业均以原材料与能源成本上涨为由，相继上调了啤酒及类似酒类产品的售价。
The four brewers consecutively raised prices of beer and beer-like drinks in October 2022, October 2023 and April 2025, citing rising costs for raw materials and energy.
上周四，日本对酒精饮料的税收政策进行了修订，将啤酒及类似啤酒的饮料的税率统一定为每350毫升54.25日元。虽然啤酒的税率降低了约9日元，但“Happoshu”（一种日本啤酒）和第三类啤酒的税率却上升了约7日元；这些价格变化直接反映了税收政策的调整。
Last Thursday, an alcohol tax revision unified the tax on beer and beer-like drinks at 54.25 yen per 350 milliliters. While the tax on beer was cut by around 9 yen, the rates on happoshu and third-category beer were raised by roughly 7 yen, with the price changes also reflecting tax revisions.
此前，日本公平交易委员会（FTC）曾在2025年9月对涉及轻质油的垄断行为展开了调查。该反垄断机构以五家石油经销商违反反垄断法为由，向相关企业提起了刑事诉讼。
The FTC's previous compulsory inspection was into a price cartel involving light oil, conducted in September 2025. The antitrust watchdog filed a criminal complaint against five oil distributors for violating the antimonopoly law.
东京地方检察厅的特别调查小组对这些企业提起了公诉，目前审判正在进行中。
The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office indicted them, with the trial ongoing.