Any current/former Bud Light drinkers here?

[18IsTheMan]

I'm not a drinker, so the current situation doesn't affect me. But I keep reading about it,.

Since sports and beer seem to go together for many, I'm just curious if there are any former Bud Light drinkers who have stopped drinking it b/c of the ongoing situation. Or if you're a Bud Light drinker who has kept drinking it b/c you don't care about the ongoing situation.

If possible, weigh in without wading into discussion about the specific ongoing situation itself. Just curious to take a straw poll to see who has quit or hasn't quit drinking it.

 

[Prestonyte]

Not a drinker either, but the grocery store shelf's tell me they are in deep trouble. Other lite beers are gone and Bud Light is always fully stocked (same aisle as milk). Local QT manager told me they are not selling any and Bud Light delivery driver confirmed it is the same everywhere and distributor warehouse is overflowing with product that is not moving.

 

[The Reel Ess]

I like beer. That said I rarely drink it anymore because it packs the pounds on. Given that I like the taste of beer, light beers are not usually on the menu. Between Bud Light and Miller Lite, the latter has more taste, though not great. So my answer is I was anti-Bud Light (and light beers in general) way ahead of the curve. If I really liked it I probably would not engage in a boycott. Since it tastes like water it's easy to avoid. A-B is basically disowning the who situation, saying it was done by an independent ad agency.

I greatly prefer some craft beer with taste. I like IPAs. But I've determined it's easier to keep the weight off with straight bourbon, if you can keep yourself from going crazy on the stuff. I can't really drink heavily without feeling ill, so I do pretty well with bourbon in moderation. Also, I'm on a good health kick and seeing the benefits.

Anheuser-Busch distributor blames ad agency for Dylan Mulvaney-Bud Light campaign

"We need to clarify the facts that this was one can, one influencer, one post and not a campaign," CEO Michel Doukeris said.

justthenews.com

 

[The Reel Ess]

Not a drinker either, but the grocery store shelf's tell me they are in deep trouble. Other lite beers are gone and Bud Light is always fully stocked (same aisle as bread). Local QT manager told me they are not selling any and Bud Light delivery driver confirmed it is the same everywhere and distributor warehouse is overflowing with product that is not moving.

A waitress told us the other night they can't give A-B products away and they're very low on everything else. This in a sports bar with a pride flag on the wall. This whole fiasco has really been a windfall for Coors/Miller.

 

[BigJC]

Not a Bud Light drinker, it is horrible tasting, but I think the brand is dead. Anheuser Busch top executives made a decision that will hurt the whole company for many years to come. I know plenty of people who will no longer drink any beer produced by Anheuser Busch, not only Bud Light.

 

[BigJC]

I like beer. That said I rarely drink it anymore because it packs the pounds on. Given that I like the taste of beer, light beers are not usually on the menu. Between Bud Light and Miller Lite, the latter has more taste, though not great. So my answer is I was anti-Bud Light (and light beers in general) way ahead of the curve. If I really liked it I probably would not engage in a boycott. Since it tastes like water it's easy to avoid. A-B is basically disowning the who situation, saying it was done by an independent ad agency.

I greatly prefer some craft beer with taste. I like IPAs. But I've determined it's easier to keep the weight off with straight bourbon, if you can keep yourself from going crazy on the stuff. I can't really drink heavily without feeling ill, so I do pretty well with bourbon in moderation. Also, I'm on a good health kick and seeing the benefits.

Anheuser-Busch distributor blames ad agency for Dylan Mulvaney-Bud Light campaign

"We need to clarify the facts that this was one can, one influencer, one post and not a campaign," CEO Michel Doukeris said.

justthenews.com

There is no way A-B did not know about the ad. If an independent agency put out an ad for a major company like A-B without top marketing people at A-B approving it, A-B would have filed a lawsuit against the ad agency on day one.

 

[18IsTheMan]

A waitress told us the other night they can't give A-B products away and they're very low on everything else. This in a sports bar with a pride flag on the wall. This whole fiasco has really been a windfall for Coors/Miller.

Not a Bud Light drinker, it is horrible tasting, but I think the brand is dead. Anheuser Busch top executives made a decision that will hurt the whole company for many years to come. I know plenty of people who will no longer drink any beer produced by Anheuser Busch, not only Bud Light.

From the outside looking in, I'm not sure what their next move can be. Stick to their guns and they risk permanently losing their core consumer. Backtrack and they get canceled by the mob.

 

[KingWard]

Former - Wayyyy former.

 

[Prestonyte]

A waitress told us the other night they can't give A-B products away and they're very low on everything else. This in a sports bar with a pride flag on the wall. This whole fiasco has really been a windfall for Coors/Miller.

Would be funny if "said ad agency" was an agent hired by Coors/Miller to sabotage Bud Light in a covert operation.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Former - Wayyyy former.

Like I said, not a drinker, but from people I know who are into beer, they describe Bud Light as tasting like old, recaptured rain water.

 

[The Reel Ess]

There is no way A-B did not know about the ad. If an independent agency put out an ad for a major company like A-B without top marketing people at A-B approving it, A-B would have filed a lawsuit against the ad agency on day one.

I agree with you. They paid for the campaign and it was for the PC crowd, whose size they grossly overestimated.

 

[Prestonyte]

I agree with you. They paid for the campaign and it was for the PC crowd, whose size they grossly overestimated.

As they have learned, a very vocal/loud minority!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I agree with you. They paid for the campaign and it was for the PC crowd, whose size they grossly overestimated.

Politics aside, from a business perspective, it doesn't make sense. Why would you try cozying up to a demographic that probably constitutes <10% of your sales at the risk of alienating the 90%?

I guess part of the problem stems from the fact that A-B is now owned In-Bev who is Belgium. Their folks don't understand the American market. One of their VPs said Bud Light's image was to "fraternity-ish" and she wanted to change it. Well, that's your core consumer.

Even as a non-drinker, it's been fascinating to follow. Sales have dipped 26% year over year, which is staggering.

 

[ToddFlanders]

It's fine as beer goes - and I think this all blows over as the weather warms up because there's always a time and place for cheap, lite beer (ball parks, concerts, out on the lake, etc). And really, all the lite stuff out there pretty much tastes the same, best price usually wins.

Personally, I'll still drink it if that's what a venue is pouring, but there are so many breweries in each city now (and other better-tasting foreign options at everyone's fingertips), there's no excuse to drink any of these big-label American lite beers.

 

[Prestonyte]

It's fine as beer goes - and I think this all blows over as the weather warms up because there's always a time and place for cheap, lite beer (ball parks, concerts, out on the lake, etc). And really, all the lite stuff out there pretty much tastes the same, best price usually wins.

Personally, I'll still drink it if that's what a venue is pouring, but there are so many breweries in each city now (and other better-tasting foreign options at everyone's fingertips), there's no excuse to drink any of these big-label American lite beers.

So, is this Bud Lite's next move - price cutting to clear the distributor's warehouse? Now the bargain basement beer!

 

[Deleted11512]

The problem with Bud Light is they don't really have anything keeping folks loyal outside of name and availability. It's cheap, but not as bad tasting as the cheapest. There's absolutely nothing keeping people from switching to Miller Light or Coors Light. When I used to drink, I drank Bud Light. But I can't tell you why. I just did. If I still drank, I'd simply start drinking Coors Light.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's fine as beer goes - and I think this all blows over as the weather warms up because there's always a time and place for cheap, lite beer (ball parks, concerts, out on the lake, etc). And really, all the lite stuff out there pretty much tastes the same, best price usually wins.

Personally, I'll still drink it if that's what a venue is pouring, but there are so many breweries in each city now (and other better-tasting foreign options at everyone's fingertips), there's no excuse to drink any of these big-label American lite beers.

Also curious to see if this thing has legs. For most people, after a while, the furor dies down and they return to their normal buying habits. But those who are opposed to Bud Light's move seem very invested in keeping the issue at the forefront. As noted above, a 26% year over year decrease in sales is staggering. That can't be absorbed long term by A-B.

 

[Deleted11512]

It's fine as beer goes - and I think this all blows over as the weather warms up because there's always a time and place for cheap, lite beer (ball parks, concerts, out on the lake, etc). And really, all the lite stuff out there pretty much tastes the same, best price usually wins.

Personally, I'll still drink it if that's what a venue is pouring, but there are so many breweries in each city now (and other better-tasting foreign options at everyone's fingertips), there's no excuse to drink any of these big-label American lite beers.

Any place that has bud light is going to have coors light too. That's why I can see them not recovering from it. There just no reason to go back once you make the change. I mean, why would you?? It's not like it tastes so good you can't stand to be without it. Marketing and branding made it the king, and will also be it's downfall.

 

[Deleted11512]

Also curious to see if this thing has legs. For most people, after a while, the furor dies down and they return to their normal buying habits. But those who are opposed to Bud Light's move seem very invested in keeping the issue at the forefront. As noted above, a 26% year over year decrease in sales is staggering. That can't be absorbed long term by A-B.

I don't know many people that drink BL for the quality. Why go back? They're going to have to do something to win customers back. There's just not that much differentiating BL from CL or ML.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Any place that has bud light is going to have coors light too. That's why I can see them not recovering from it. There just no reason to go back once you make the change. I mean, why would you?? It's not like it tastes so good you can't stand to be without it. Marketing and branding made it the king, and will also be it's downfall.

Can Coors light keep up with the increased demand? I'm surprised one of the Bud Light competitors hasn't come out with an ad highlighting its American manliness. Men coming out of coal mines and factories and coming off the football field, etc.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Also curious to see if this thing has legs. For most people, after a while, the furor dies down and they return to their normal buying habits. But those who are opposed to Bud Light's move seem very invested in keeping the issue at the forefront. As noted above, a 26% year over year decrease in sales is staggering. That can't be absorbed long term by A-B.

It could be very much like the Target boycott after they allowed trans people to use their respective restrooms. Once all the faux outrage died down people just went back to life as usual (and Target stock has been through the roof since then).

We'll see. I'd be curious to see the margins on lite beer. I feel like there is no in-between: they either make pennies on a can and they need staggering sales to make things run, or they make so much per can because it's so cheap, that some bad sales can be sustained until there's something else to get outraged about.

 

[[email protected]]

It will all blow over. Idk why people care so much but they do. It will blow over and AB owns so many different beers that people dont realize that most of the alternates they choose still support AB. Americans are dumb. That is about all.

Bud Light has always been a mediocre light beer.

 

[Deleted11512]

Can Coors light keep up with the increased demand? I'm surprised one of the Bud Light competitors hasn't come out with an ad highlighting its American manliness. Men coming out of coal mines and factories and coming off the football field, etc.

Sometimes it's best to just let your competitor screw up. They don't have to do anything at this point. But my guess is after some time passes, there will be more targeted ads to remind consumers who is who. The longer this stays in the news cycle, it's just free advertising for AB competitors.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Any place that has bud light is going to have coors light too. That's why I can see them not recovering from it. There just no reason to go back once you make the change. I mean, why would you?? It's not like it tastes so good you can't stand to be without it. Marketing and branding made it the king, and will also be it's downfall.

I'm actually surprised that the big labels still have so much market share given the other options out there. But I agree, there's nothing stopping someone from changing from one cheap beer to another.

But people have short memories. Sure, there will be some holdouts forever because a trans person drank a Bud Light in public, but most will go about their lives - and if Bud Light was their go-to cheap beer, they'll just start ordering it again.

 

[USCBatgirl21]

As others have said, once the faux outrage dies down, folks will go back to Bud Light and other AB products.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm actually surprised that the big labels still have so much market share given the other options out there. But I agree, there's nothing stopping someone from changing from one cheap beer to another.

But people have short memories. Sure, there will be some holdouts forever because a trans person drank a Bud Light in public, but most will go about their lives - and if Bud Light was their go-to cheap beer, they'll just start ordering it again.

I know nothing about beer. If someone put glasses of Bud Light and Coors Light in front of you, would the taste be easily distinguishable? Or is it 6 of one, half a dozen of the other?

My only point of reference is Coke vs Pepsi, and they taste distinctly different haha

 

[The Reel Ess]

I'm actually surprised that the big labels still have so much market share given the other options out there.

That's why they spend so much on advertising. Only an eyelash difference between the products.

 

[The Reel Ess]

As others have said, once the faux outrage dies down, folks will go back to Bud Light and other AB products.

I actually like Bud Heavy and I'll drink it again.

 

[KingWard]

Like I said, not a drinker, but from people I know who are into beer, they describe Bud Light as tasting like old, recaptured rain water.

I never liked beer.

 

[MaxTalmage10]

I drink cheap beer exclusively before entering Willy B 7 times a year. Miller Lite will be the only cheap beer I am drinking in 2023 before we win it all.

 

[USCBatgirl21]

I actually like Bud Heavy and I'll drink it again.

I was never a Budweiser or Bud Light fan, but I drink Ultra and/or Stella. I also like some Landshark from time to time.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I'm not sure it's faux outrage. A good number of people seem genuinely upset about it. But I know anytime the left is upset about something, the right calls it faux outrage. Anytime the right is upset about something, the left calls it faux outrage.

 

[The Reel Ess]

I'm not sure it's faux outrage. A good number of people seem genuinely upset about it. But I know anytime the left is upset about something, the right calls it faux outrage. Anytime the right is upset about something, the left calls it faux outrage.

I agree. It's not faux according to the beer cooler at Food Lion and the bar waitress I spoke with. It probably is temporary. Th only question is how temporary.

 

[ToddFlanders]

I know nothing about beer. If someone put glasses of Bud Light and Coors Light in front of you, would the taste be easily distinguishable? Or is it 6 of one, half a dozen of the other?

My only point of reference is Coke vs Pepsi, and they taste distinctly different haha

There is a distinct difference for sure. Coors Light has even less flavor than Bud Light. However, they're all pretty interchangeable if you drink them like I do - a fast drinker on a hot day (or if you're going to be drinking for a while).

I would say though, if anyone was brand loyal, and the majority of what they drank was a particular light beer, then they could have a hard time changing because they do all taste very different.

 

[The Reel Ess]

There is a distinct difference for sure. Coors Light has even less flavor than Bud Light. However, they're all pretty interchangeable if you drink them like I do - a fast drinker on a hot day (or if you're going to be drinking for a while).

I would say though, if anyone was brand loyal, and the majority of what they drank was a particular light beer, then they could have a hard time changing because they do all taste very different.

It's funny I always thought the quality went from Miller Lite to Bud Light to Coors Light. Decent-tastes like nothing and skunky, respectively.

 

[ToddFlanders]

I'm not sure it's faux outrage. A good number of people seem genuinely upset about it. But I know anytime the left is upset about something, the right calls it faux outrage. Anytime the right is upset about something, the left calls it faux outrage.

I can see where "faux outrage" could be incorrect - the outrage is real. Maybe "manufactured outrage" is more apropos. Will there still be outrage when the cable news (or social media mob) move on? If people aren't being told to be outraged, will it persist. Usually the answer is "no." And this goes both ways. All you have to do is wait for the people to be told what to be outraged with next and past outrage is forgotten.

 

[jbmont]

It's hilarious that their sales are way down because people are upset that an ad offends their politics instead of because it's just an utterly crap product.

But hey, there are plenty of other crap beers to choose from.....

 

[18IsTheMan]

I can see where "faux outrage" could be incorrect - the outrage is real. Maybe "manufactured outrage" is more apropos. Will there still be outrage when the cable news (or social media mob) move on? If people aren't being told to be outraged, will it persist. Usually the answer is "no." And this goes both ways. All you have to do is wait for the people to be told what to be outraged with next and past outrage is forgotten.

Even for genuine outrage, most people have difficulty sustaining it long-term, particularly if it's a product they really like.

Best comparison for me would be Coke Zero. It's my go-to and about all I drink besides water. If they came out with some position I was absolutely opposed to I doubt I could ever muster the outrage to quit drinking it. It would have to a pretty extreme position, like donating a portion of sales to fund ISIS or something. If I did muster the outrage, it would not last long b/c I can't stand Pepsi.

Other stuff, laundry detergent and paper towels, I could switch no problem and never think about it again because I don't have the brand loyalty you mention.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Even for genuine outrage, most people have difficulty sustaining it long-term, particularly if it's a product they really like.

Right. I mean I'm conservative (shocker) but I love me some Starbucks Pike Place. Ain't nobody gonna tell me what to buy.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

If you drink lite beer you're already halfway there.