Kentei (official inspection of alcoholic beverages for tax purposes)

Kentei (検定) refers to the process by which tax officials confirm and inspect the quantity, alcohol content, extract content, and other attributes of each container when alcoholic beverages, including sake, are produced. In principle, kentei should be based on actual measurement, but in practice it is often carried out on the basis of information that the producer declares. For this reason, it is important that the producer's declarations are accurate. Kentei of alcoholic beverages is not based on scientific statistical methods; it is a practical inspection carried out for tax purposes.