Consumerist: Anheuser-Busch

Should The Proposed Sale Of Anheuser-Busch To A Belgian Brewer Be Stopped?

Meg Marco — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:19:35 EDT

Missouri governor Matt Blunt has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, "asking for a federal review of the proposed sale of Anheuser-Busch Cos. to Belgian brewer InBev," says the AP. Blunt is concerned that allowing the maker of Becks and Stella Artois beers to buy the St. Louis-based brewery could create a "near monopoly" in the US beer market, and that it would damage the Missouri economy.

The weak dollar has prompted InBev to offer $46 billion for AB. Meanwhile, AB, which hasn't responded to the offer, is said to be trying to merge with Grupo Modelo SAB, the maker of Corona. If that merger is successful, it could make AB even more attractive to InBev.

Does it matter if Budweiser is owned by a bunch of Belgians?

Some people sure think so.

SAB May Become Target, Modelo May Not Deter InBev, ING Says [Bloomberg]
Missouri governor fights Anheuser-Busch sale [SLT]
(Photo: *nomad* )

Attorneys General Investigating Anheuser-Busch And Miller Over Energy Drink Marketing

Meg Marco — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:34:30 EST

Attorneys general in several states have subpoenaed documents from A-B and Miller as part of an investigation in to the marketing of caffeinated alcoholic energy drinks, says the AP.

A-B issued a statement:

"Anheuser-Busch is, of course, cooperating with the subpoenas," the company said. "But it is important to realize that the AGs are investigating products whose formulation and labeling already have been approved by the federal authorities, as well as by those states that require state liquor authority approval."

Critics of the drinks say they are marketed to teenagers who already are familiar with and consume energy drinks, but Miller denied this accusation in a statement:

"We responsibly market our products to legal drinking age consumers consistent with industry marketing codes and applicable laws and regulations," the Milwaukee-based company, a unit of SABMiller PLC, said.

A-B continued:

"If the Attorneys General truly believe that, despite the state and federal regulatory approvals, alcohol and caffeine should not be mixed, then they should use their powers to persuade these authorities to regulate or ban all such beverages, not just the lower-alcohol, prepackaged ones," the statement said.

We didn't get the impression that the AGs thought people shouldn't mix caffeine and alcohol, just that maybe the drinks shouldn't be marketed to kids (if indeed they actually are.)

The first time someone handed us a "Sparks" or whatever, we seriously thought it was soda from ALDI or something.

States probe marketing of energy drinks [BusinessWeek]
(Photo:Mister Brentus)

Spykes Gets Axed

Carey — Sat, 19 May 2007 09:26:20 EDT

Anheuser-Busch is pouring Spykes down the drain less than a week after twenty-nine state attorneys general asked the brewer to warn customers that mixing Spykes with caffeinated beverages could be dangerous. The AGs also expressed concern that the colorful alcoholic flavor shots encouraged underage drinking.

"Due to its limited volume potential and unfounded criticism, we have ceased production of Spykes," Anheuser-Busch said in a statement, in which it added that Spykes was the lowest alcohol content product in its market segment.

The decision, announced by Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch IV, was heralded by Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal as a "significant victory in the fight against underage drinking." Sorry, kids. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Anheuser-Busch says will stop selling Spykes [Reuters]
PREVIOUSLY: Twenty Nine Attorneys General Worry Teenagers May Get All Coked-Up On Spykes
(Photo: cyancey)

Twenty Nine Attorneys General Worry Teenagers May Get All Coked-Up On Spykes

Carey — Sat, 12 May 2007 18:56:33 EDT

Twenty-nine state attorneys general have asked Anheuser-Busch, makers of the alcoholic flavor shots called Spykes, to warn consumers that it may be dangerous to mix Spykes with caffeinated beverages. The AGs also expressed concern that Spykes might encourage underage drinking with its "tiny, attractive, brightly colored containers that can be easily concealed in a pocket or purse." That couldn't possibly appeal to underage drinkers, who, we are told, prefer their 40 oz beverages concealed in sober tan paper bags.

Anheuser-Busch spokeswoman Francine Katz said the St. Louis company does not endorse underage drinking and does not target minors. She said Spykes shots, which are sold in 2-ounce bottles and have as much alcohol as a third of a glass of wine, are less likely to appeal to minors, who typically "drink for instant impact."

Controversy is practically Spykes' mistress. The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms already ruled that the Spykes' teeny-tiny government mandated warning label was "out of compliance" for being too teeny and tiny. We don't see Spykes becoming less controversial anytime soon, leading us to wonder: is Spykes the new Cocaine? — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Anheuser Criticized Over Alcohol-Caffeine Drinks [Washington Post]