In Japan, there is no such law, and nearly all stores close at 8 PM anyway, many on sundays as well. There are 24/7 convenience stores which are almost exactly like German gas stations minus the gas. The net effect: harldy any difference.

Thanks, I'll bring up that example the next time somebody tries to convince me that we need a law and the market can't regulate itself.

Since you can get milk at the gas station if you forget to stock up the day before: what's the problem?