Controversy and Scepticism
The acquisition ignited worry about the loss of an American brewing icon to foreign ownership. As with American brands bought by foreign companies, critics fear job losses and diminished brand authenticity. While InBev promised to maintain U.S. operations and Budweiser’s heritage, some skeptics viewed the deal as prioritizing global profits over local roots.
More recently, Budweiser’s parent company AB InBev faced public backlash linked to Bud Light, its top-selling beer. In April 2023, Bud Light partnered with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer. The partnership was a social media campaign that included a commemorative Bud Light can featuring Mulvaney’s face. This collaboration created fierce backlash from conservative groups and consumers, leading to a boycott of Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch products.
The boycott caused Bud Light’s sales to drop by up to 26% in the months following the campaign. AB InBev’s U.S. sales declined by 9.1% in the first quarter of 2024. The controversy also led to a 20% drop in AB InBev’s stock price in May 2023. This culminated in the loss of Bud Light’s 20-year reign as America’s best-selling beer to Modelo Especial.
Anheuser-Busch responded by distancing itself from the campaign, clarifying that the commemorative can was a limited gift. According to Anheuser-Busch, it was not a mass-market promotion. This also led to the indefinite canceling of its Budweiser Clydesdales events due to safety concerns amid the backlash.