Word of mouth - Update

Business Asia, Sept, 2002

"The challenges are formidable, However, the bigger the problems, the stronger our resolve must be to face them head on, get on top of them, and move forward."

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in his National Day message, which covered issues such as recession, the US economy, competition, and unemployment.

"I don't like it as much as real beer, but happoshu is almost half the price ... With the economy as bad as it is, I don't mind saving some money."

34-year old insurance salesman Tatsuo Suzuki, one of many Japanese beer-consumers reduced to buying a much cheaper brew--a reflection of tighter purse strings amongst the country's population.