Sales of sake are soaring in Britain while the Japanese are falling out of love with their traditional tipple.

Younger drinkers are spurning rice wine in favour of imported wine, beer and shochu, a spirit making a comeback in Tokyo.

Domestic sake consumption has fallen every year since 1995 and it is estimated that Japanese people drink a third of the amount they drank 30 years ago.

But exports are booming and drinkers in Britain are following suit after the US, Taiwan and China embraced sake over the last decade.

A handful of family-run breweries are responsible for most sake production.

The drink is made by fermenting rice several times to produce a beverage containing about 15-19 per cent alcohol that can be drunk hot or cold.

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