Bud Light Plummets To 14th Place Among Beers As Anheuser-Busch CEO Pleads For Consumers To Think Of

[nightwing1240]

The 65,000 Employees Impacted By Boycotts

As Bud Light, once a beloved contender among the country's favorite beers, spirals down to the 14th spot, the repercussions resonate far beyond the brand itself.

A recent YouGov survey reveals the decline in Bud Light's ranking, casting it below competitors like Pabst Bue Ribbon, Miller Genuine Draft and Miller Lite. This seismic shift in popularity jeopardizes the livelihoods of the 65,000 people whose economic well-being is intricately tied to Anheuser-Busch InBev's success.

Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth has taken full responsibility for the controversial promotion involving transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney that caused sales to plummet. In an interview with CBS, Whitworth emphasized that he is ultimately accountable for the actions of the company, expressing concern for the people whose livelihoods depend on Anheuser-Busch.

snip

Alissa Heinerscheid, the first woman to lead Bud Light in the brand's 40-year history, faced significant backlash from consumers following her collaboration with Mulvaney to expand the brand's reach. Her comments about the brand being "out of touch" and in need of a makeover further fueled the controversy. As a result, Heinerscheid, along with Anheuser-Busch's global Vice President of Marketing Daniel Blake, was placed on administrative leave.

Link https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33172117/bud-light-plummets-to-14th-place-among-beers-as-anheuser-busch-ceo-pleads-for-consumers-to-think-of
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Stuff like this shows how far we've got to go yet to end idiocy of the general public.

[hlthe2b]

1. How fickle is "image... Several times a month I drive by a nearby A-B faciilty

and always take a quick stop to see if the Clydesdales are in town in the pasture behind. I just hope to heaven that the nuts don't target them.

[Mysterian]

2. They should put beer in quotation marks when discussing America's favorite beers

It's more like watered-down-get-drunk-juice for alcoholics.

[hlthe2b]

3. Nah, we have one of the most vibrant micro-brewery cultures in the world.

No lack of good beer there.

[Mysterian]

7. Which one is among "America's favorite beers?"

Those are the beers to which I referred.

[hlthe2b]

53. The correct terminology would be "best-selling" beers. "Favorite beers" include the best micros

[Mysterian]

57. LOL

Whatevs.

[hlthe2b]

58. ...

and the correct response here really should be "you are right, hlthe2b" ... Sorry, not, but I think we DO create good craft beer in this country so I do take exception to your derision.

[Mysterian]

59. Deal with it in your own special way

and have a great day!

[Retrograde]

50. When groceries stock an aisle of local

and small-brewery beers in a variety of styles, why would I bother with Coors or Anhaueser Busch or even any of the other big breweries? And if I feel like drinking something almost but not completely totally unlike beer, Lagunitas and other area breweries produce "hop water", an no-alcohol, no-calorie drink made with hops (it's fizzy and tart/somewhat lemony and is nice on a hot day)

[Aristus]

36. And you have to drink, like, a 12-pack to even get a buzz-on.

That explains all the beer bellies in the MAGAt crowd.

If anyone were to tell them that a nice glass of Lagavulin, neat, would do the trick...

[Oopsie Daisy]

40. That's a great description. The members of my family* who love Bud Light are indeed alcoholics.

* In-laws and other assorted folks that I generally dislike and wouldn't bother inviting to Christmas dinner or a cookout, but that I must be polite to whenever I see them at weddings and funerals.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. It Will Bounce Back

I predict that within 18 months those "offended" by A-B will forget it ever happened and be back to buying Bud Light.
Even Kid Rock will be back to buying it.

[Generic Brad]

5. Kid Rock is already buying it back

That was reported locally here in Tennessee last week.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. Figures!

The focus of a mosquito.

[Mysterian]

47. I bought a 30-pack the other day

I have a neighbor who drinks that shit. It was the only stuff at the gas station in a 30-pack.

[Buckeyeblue]

6. Bud and bud light are not good, IMO

I wonder if the protestors have discovered that? It's no longer about the protest, it's about the taste.

[sarcasmo]

12. Having spent time in Canada, our American beer really stinks. Moslon Canadian is

a superior beer.

[genxlib]

14. Agree

Molson Canadian is one of the top mass market beers around.

In general, I will take a bad Canadian or Mexican over a mass market American any day.

[Wednesdays]

45. Agreed.

And if I want a North American beer, I usually buy Labatt's Blue, as to me it's the closest to European types.

[Oneironaut]

51. Craft beer is the real American beer.

Typical “American” beer is just corporate-created swill.

I urge you to try local craft beers. It’ll totally change your mind about American beer.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Proof MAGA and Q are en masse a pile of drinkers

[Emile]

9. I never have liked Budweiser and I like a beer

every now and then.

[Goonch]

10. The 10 Worst Beers In The World

9. Bud Light

https://vinepair.com/articles/the-10-worst-beers-in-the-world/

[Mr. Sparkle]

11. I thought the right hated cancel culture

i must has missed the memo which said they've canceled that too.

[Initech]

49. No they love them some cancel culture.

In the last 7 years no one has started more boycotts than the MAGA snowflake losers have. Hell they started like 12 boycotts in the last two months alone because of their anti-Pride hysteria. I want to think that someone is just straight fucking with them, but at the same time there's a good percentage of them that actually believe the shit that they hear on Fox News and social media.

[vercetti2021]

13. Maybe instead of caving to the fascists

You should have doubled down on support for Dylan and the LGBTQ community. You fucked yourselves with everyone by caving and running with your fucking tails tucked between your legs and leaving Dylan out to dry for the trolls and psychotic fascists. You could have been fine with the non fascists and sane ones. But nope. You cave to a loud and violent minority and piss off the left at the same time.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. That is their real problem!

[Oneironaut]

15. "I'm sorry we involved that vile (t-slur). We'll try to work with only bigot-approved people in the

future!”

That what I feel like they’re saying. Bud Light is vile swill and it’s manufacturer is full of spineless corporate cowards.

[onenote]

16. This is a YouGov survey. In terms of actual sales, Bud Light remains number two

Yes, it lost the top spot and its sales have continued to drop, but it still ranks number two, after Modelo.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/modelo-especial-tops-bud-light-125516137.html

[melm00se]

19. Guess who owns

Modelo.

[onenote]

25. Not Anheuser-Busch, if that's what you're suggesting.

Modelo is not owned by A-B in the US. I know some think it is, but they're mistaken.

Modelo's ownership varies. In countries outside the US, Modelo is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. However, within the US, Modelo is owned by the New York-based beverage conglomerate Constellation Brands.

https://opoyi.com/business/is-modelo-owned-by-anheuser-busch-which-also-owns-bud-light-top-selling-us-beer-brands-origin-explored/

[Bluethroughu]

17. Bud light should have ran a commercial with their trade mark

Clyde's going through all neighborhoods and said we serve American and everyone in it. Make it real inclusive and Americana...it would have brought the boozers back.

[Lurker Deluxe]

43. That was the first thing they did

It was mocked, openly, by damn near everyone.

[Torchlight]

18. GOP Cancel Culture is as short lived and diaphanous as Conservative Family Values

in that its definition changes dependent solely on the target v. Aggressor, and any current boycott will be purged from memory as soon as it becomes inconvenient.

Last month the coworker tells me I'm unable to say one positive thing about Trump, so I respond "he's the most accurate representative of conservative family values in existence." At that moment, I'd guess her stink eye could be smelled from a mile away.

[Hugin]

20. I think it was on it's way down anyway...

And this whole “boycott” thing is a cynical stunt to make the stunted deplorables feel empowered and relevant in an attempt to cash in on foundering brand of lousy beer that lost most of it’s fans due to COVID, not wearing masks, and horse dewormer.

Anyhow, that’s my take. YMMV.

[moose65]

21. I don't know anything about beer, really

Before all this brouhaha, if someone had asked me what the best-selling beer in America was, I would have never guessed Bud Light!

I drink a beer once in awhile, but I don't think I've ever had a Bud Light. I like local microbrews. If I had to pick a "mass produced" beer, I guess I'd go with Corona or Newcastle.

I'm also a little ashamed to admit that I'd never heard of Modelo before this!

[hatrack]

22. Faceless corporation pleads for us to think of the workers, or the children, or whatever . . .

And when the downturn continues, the same faceless corporation will cut jobs within the blink of an Executive Vice President's eye.

[DFW]

23. I have always hated the taste and smell of beer

Not only do I not get all the controversy, it also apparently disqualifies me from being nominated by a Republican for the Supreme Court.

[Hugin]

26. Buried well below the lede...

We see the real issue here:

“Alissa Heinerscheid, the first woman to lead Bud Light in the brand's 40-year history…”

Gasp! It’s a woman in charge!

I can hear the lowbrows sputtering from here.

[doc03]

24. It is funny beer drinkers are like sheep. I remember when PBR was the beer nationally,

Rolling Rock was a local favorite, another was Strows, people were paying a high price in the east for Coors. I never did drink Bud Light unless
it was free. Now it is in fashion to drink Mexican beer. I have drank Modelo, Dos xx, Corona, I couldn't tell you in a blind twist test one from to other
or even from Bud Light. Myself the only ones I really don't care for is IPAs but other people like them. I can't say they are not good but personally I don't like them. I don't even know what got the MAGAts all upset with Bud Light.

[Hugin]

28. Yep...

The few times I ever drank Bud Light is because it was the ONLY beverage available and it was free.

[doc03]

29. I was drinking Coors Light, I tried Corona Light but I couldn't see any reason to pay a

premium price for it, now it's Yeangling Light Lager. I know the Yeangling family are right wingers but it
is a product produced by US workers. Honestly if I took a blind taste test Icouldn't pick one from the other.

[jonstl08]

27. Guinness is best

Was stationed over in England during the late 1980's and grew to love Guinness. When I came back to the states started drinking American beers but when Guinness started being available in my area I switched back to it. Drinking most American beers feels like drinking water now.

[Johonny]

30. It shows exactly why their marketing was correct

Bud lite was losing sales status before any of this happened. They needed to try to broaden the appeal. It's pretty obvious they had become too narrow a niche brand. Unfortunately their attempts at broadening their appeal angered their narrowing costumer base. But the fact such a narrow base could so significantly hurt their sales, demonstrates how far they'd fallen as a brand prior to this year.

The most obvious thing is the company needs A) better products B) better marketing. It simply can't survive the Mexican import wave as is.

[Zeitghost]

39. Narrow niche brand?

They were the best selling beer in the country and are still number 2 despite a large drop in sales. If that's niche, what do you consider a mass market brand in beer?

[brooklynite]

31. Am I still allowed to not drink Bud Light because it's lousy beer?

[boston bean]

32. Slash the price. These people have no principles.

[Lurker Deluxe]

42. It has been damn near free since May

Bud Light has been running coupon specials since Memorial day which refunds almost the full price of the beer.

I was a BL drinker and when all of this first happened I did not give one bit of attention to it. Who cares was my typical response when at the local watering hole and someone commented.

I did not.

Then ...

They came right out and said that the brand was in decline because the drinkers of the beer were, "fratty and out of touch". The company came out and said we are not concerned at all because American BL drinkers are not even 1% of our global sales.

OK. Insult me, fuck you.

Now I do not drink it.

I actually drink a more expensive beer, Flight by Yuengling. Better beer, American made (actually the oldest brewer in America). The watering hole I drink at, where I have known the owners for over a decade, have gone from ordering 12 cases of BL a week to 1 case every 2. Overall sales are not down, the other brands have just picked up. The price has almost nothing to do with it, the commercials are openly mocked when they come on the TV. Straight up pandering, "A classic American" blah blah ...

Beer is beer and it is an acquired taste to begin with. Changing brands is a matter of drinking something different for a couple of weeks. The customer base has changed, it will take a long time for it to change back ... if ever.

[tazkcmo]

34. Even at the peak of my alcoholism

I sneered at all Budweiser products. To put that in perspective, I drank a handle of Atomic Vodka just because of the name. As awful as it was, it was leagues above the urine called Bud Light.

[Showbizkid]

35. Someday, there is going to be hell of a book written on this

The 28-year-old marketing rep who destroyed a massive global brand.

[Arazi]

37. Nah, A-B's senior execs did this when they caved and pissed off the rest of us

If they’d stayed solid with Dylan and in solidarity with the folks who find homophobia repellent, they would have been fine.

As it is, the senior execs caved to the trolls and lost everyone else in the process.

Can’t lay all of this on the ad exec at all

[Showbizkid]

38. I dunno. Were urban hipsters really drinking Bud Light?

I used to be an urban hipster. I wouldn't drink Bud Light to make a political statement.

[Arazi]

41. Oh definitely not but those hipsters who would have supported AB in solidarity

IF they’d stood with Dylan, were lost as well.

For instance, when I have a party, I always have a light beer available. I would have bought Bud Light to have on hand even though I’ve never bought it before.

It would have become its own “thing” imo. A statement as it were.

Now they’ve lost that niche too that might have made the difference

[Initech]

52. Kid Rock can go fuck himself for starting this bullshit.

[Duncan Grant]

46. I'd love to see the marketing analysis/demographics of all this.

As I understand it, 60% of beer consumption in the U.S. is done by men; 40% of that is in the south.

Which markets have been most affected? Is the greatest shift occurring in urban or rural areas? Do beer consumers believe the can or bottle they hold in a bar signals something about their politics/attitudes?

If anyone knows where this discussion is occurring — could you let me know?

[Initech]

48. Meanwhile, the guy that started the madness restocks his bar with it.

Kid Rock can go fuck himself. And so can the MAGA snowflake dipshits.

[hunter]

54. InBev isn't hurting at all.

Any publicity, good or bad, is money in the bank.

[onenote]

55. June numbers for InBev's US brands- Bud Light Down, Others Up

Year to date change in market share 2022 v 2023:

Bud Light: 12.7% to 11.7%
Michelob Ultra: 8.6% to 9.5%
Busch Bavarian: 4.9% to 5.9%
Budweiser: 5.0% to 5.1%
Natural Light: 3.1% to 3.3%

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/modelo-especial-tops-bud-light-most-sold-us-beer-second-consecutive-month-2023-07-10/

This doesn't include sales for various other InBev US brands such as Stella Artois, Landshark, Kona Big Wave (to name just three).

[Model35mech]

56. Bud is not even on my list of options. I'm in Wisconsin

And although we birthed many beer making corporations...

Big corporate beer is really very low quality.

I'd much rather drink an in-state beer like Nutty-Squirrel or Spotted Cow.

[ForgedCrank]

60. This is

my beef with economic terrorism.
Sure, it may damage a billion dollar companys bottom line for a while, but it can destroy the livelihood of a lot of people who have nothing at all to do with the bullcrap slinging back and forth. Those people are just trying feed their kids, pay their mortgage, and keep the electricity turned on.
I blame the boycott people as much as I do the company for inserting itself into politics. It's a silly and childish game that hurts real people.