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Asahi Cyberattack Deepens, Fueling Japan Beer Shortage Fears and Ransomware Probe

The brewer has begun limited manual shipments, with automated ordering and broader deliveries still largely suspended.

Overview

  • Five days after the intrusion, orders and shipments across Japan remain mostly halted, call centers are down, and most domestic breweries have stopped production.
  • Asahi started taking some orders in person and handwriting them midweek and sent its first batch of manually packed shipments on Friday while pausing new alcohol orders to prioritize deliveries.
  • The company and authorities are treating the incident as ransomware, and investigators have found traces suggesting a potential unauthorized transfer of data while detailed disclosures are being withheld.
  • Major retailers including 7‑Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson have posted notices and warned supplies could run short within days, with some restaurants switching to rival beers as kegs run out.
  • Overseas operations are unaffected, planned product launches have been delayed, shares have fallen since the announcement, and Asahi says no customer data leaks have been confirmed.