Since the Liquor Tax Law was established in 1940, to maintain the liquor tax and prevent a price war of single distilled shochu (group Otshu), for four major varieties of barley, rice, sweet potato, buckwheat admitting new manufacturing licenses were refused and production couldn't commence for a long time, but in 2005 as a part of structural reform without sanctuaries, the National Tax Agency presented its views on the relaxation of regulations and admitted new licenses from 2006 though it was limited in areas and with conditions.
酒税法が制定された1940年以来、単式蒸留焼酎（乙種）は酒税の保全や過当競争防止等の理由にてムギ・米・サツマイモ・ソバの主要4品種については新規製造免許を認めない方針によって、製造の新規参入ができない状態が長らく続いていたが、聖域なき構造改革の一環として国税庁が2005年に規制緩和の見解を示し、一部地域・条件付きながら2006年以降に新規免許が認められる事となった。