Suntory eyes US cocktail push as young Japanese shun booze

Popular tipple: Suntory’s canned cocktail -196 Double Lemon on sale at a store in Sydney. The lemony brew is quickly becoming a top seller in the canned cocktail market in Australia. — Reuters

JAPANESE drinks giant Suntory Inc last year debuted a strong, lemony brew in Australia that quickly became the top seller in the canned cocktail market there.

Now the company is aiming to replicate that success in North America, critical to its aim in becoming the global leader in the fastest growing alcoholic drinks segment.