The sight of businessmen passed out on benches and in train stations are common in Japan. Drinking is an integral part of Japanese culture; it's present at Shinto ceremonies – like weddings and baby showers – and plays an important role in the formation of Japanese business culture.

When it comes to Japanese booze, sake and whiskey are what come to mind. But beer is actually the local beverage of choice, accounting for 31% of all alcohol drunk annually. So perhaps it's unsurprising that craft beer is beginning to make a name for itself in the Land of the Rising Sun.

With health and fitness trends on the rise, you'd be forgiven for thinking that boozing is set for a terminal decline. Yet that’s not the case; the majority of Americans knock back four drinks a week. So what's the future of alcohol consumption? And are we all going to become teetotal?

Individual freedoms are at the heart of Western society, but with economies reeling from greedy bankers, healthcare costs rising, and citizens outraged over media ethics, a new aspiration of control and responsibility has emerged.