California Embraces Shochu: Authentic Japanese Spirit Finds Its Rightful Place
Governor Gavin Newsom officially enacted California state legislature AB 416 on October 10, 2023, revolutionizing the sale of Japanese shochu to establishments with a Type 41 liquor license. These licenses are typically held by restaurants and bars where beer and wine are authorized for sale and consumption.
Previously, before the enactment of AB 416, Japanese shochu with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 24% or less was sold under the guise of soju, a Korean distilled beverage. This workaround, rooted in the earlier legislation allowing an exception for Korean Soju, stemmed from guidance issued by the California ABC. This policy not only blurred the cultural distinctiveness of the two spirits but also led to consumer confusion.
Unlike soju, which undergoes multiple distillations, shochu is distilled just once and is stringently regulated by the Japanese government to ensure its high quality. Characterized by a diverse range of flavors, all shochu share a unique fermentation process using Koji, a method not traditionally found outside of Japan.
The new law now classifies shochu with an ABV of 24% or less in the same category as beer and wine, enabling its sale to Type 41 liquor license holders under its actual name.
This legislative victory was championed by Assembly members Al Muratsuchi and Miguel Santiago.
Advocacy for this change was led by Chikako Ichihara, the US liaison officer for the Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association (JSS), and its registered lobbyist John McCarthy.
Hitoshi Utsunomiya, director of JSS, hailed the amendment as “an incredible team effort,” crediting the collaboration of distillers, exporters, importers, and notably the Japanese Restaurant Association of America.
“Shochu’s rich history in the United States is set to continue, and we’re thrilled that bars and restaurants can now rightfully sell and serve Japanese shochu under its authentic name,” celebrated Utsunomiya.
California’s move mirrors New York’s legislation on July 1, 2022, amending the Beverage Control Act to permit shochu sales under its genuine name, breaking away from the previous mandate of labeling it as soju.
