[threedaymonk]

This reminds me of Happoshu[1]: beer was expensive in Japan because malt content was taxed[2]. Brewers introduced fizzy beer-like beverages with lower malt content ("happoshu"). Beer tax revenues consequently dropped, so the tax on most happoshu was raised to parity with beer. Brewers responded by putting even less malt in their fizzy alcohol drinks.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happoshu

2. As I have been led to understand, this was intended to dissuade rice-growing land being switched to barley: Japan seeks to preserve self-sufficiency in rice production.