Free beer. That usually grabs people’s attention. Belgian-owned Anheuser-Busch Inbev hopes that free beer — plus a boatload of advertising — will grab some new drinkers for its sagging flagship brand Budweiser.
The big brewer announced plans for a “national happy hour” on Sept. 29 to distribute free samples of Budweiser at bars and restaurants. Details of the availability of the free beer — 6 to 12 ounce samples, depending on local and state rules — were still being hammered out. FWIW, I thought “free” alcohol was illegal in most states.
A National Happy Hour sounds like a great idea… let’s all have a round together. But does it have to be with a 6-oz Bud? The goal of their effort is to revive a brand that saw its U.S. market share peak in 1988, at 26 percent. By last year, it had declined to 9.3 percent.
A-B is trying to convince young drinkers to even try a brand known as the King of Beers. A company study —that I find hard to believe — found that 4 out of 10 drinkers ages 21 to 27 had never even sipped Budweiser.
I’m curious… have you never even tried a Bud? Let’s hear it in the comments below.
Full story at SLToday.com.
Bud claims the survey was of “drinkers.” I don’t know anyone who’s ever said “Hey, I think I’ll try a Bud for the first time.” Maybe they polled 13 year olds.
@DoubleJack: What if you’re not a beer drinker? Or a tea-totaler?
I find that number hard to believe… love it, hate it or indifferent, I would think that you’ve tried Budweiser.