FOR USE WITH STORY BC-JAPAN-BEER, 1998-11-16 (photo)

FOR RELEASE WITH STORY BC-JAPAN-BEER - Asahi Breweries Ltd spokesman Toru Okajima drinks from a new 'steiny' bottle at Asahi headquarters in Tokyo. While Japanese major breweries struggle to defend their market share with an ever increasing number of new brands, Asahi has caught green hearts with its new 'steiny' bottles that are returnable like traditional glass bottles. The steiny bottle, a 334-ml glass bottle which does not require a bottle opener, hit the market in April when many in the industry were convinced that canned beer would eventually replace all bottled beer for home consumption. Picture taken 12NOV98. ST/JO/ME