The Japan Foodservice Association warned that the government’s plan to cut the consumption tax on food and beverages to 1% in April 2027, while leaving dine-in purchases at 10%, could drive customers away from restaurants. The association wants meal vouchers for restaurant use, the reduced rate extended to dine-in consumption, and permission to display pre-tax prices and tax amounts separately. Chairman Mitsumoto Atsushi, President of Gourmet Kineya, said restaurants are "lifestyle infrastructure" and expressed concern that the wider tax gap would weaken demand. The industry recorded roughly a 5% decline in customer traffic after the reduced tax system began in October 2019, when takeout was taxed at 8%. The government is considering financing support and incentives for takeout services, but industry executives say those measures do not match their request for direct demand support. The issue is expected to feature in discussions during the extraordinary Diet session this autumn, alongside tax-related legislation.