A recent report by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) sheds light on claims that foreign entities dominate the U.S. beer market, particularly impacting small, independent breweries.
This report, initially revealed by The Daily Caller, zeroes in on Anheuser-Busch InBev, recognized as the largest beer company worldwide. The Belgian-Brazilian conglomerate operates from Belgium and boasts a wide array of well-known brands, including Budweiser and Michelob Ultra.
According to CASE, “AB InBev suppresses competition to boost its own profits,” employing a range of political, lobbying, and advertising tactics that require substantial investments. It mentions how the company altered its marketing strategy following backlash from a Bud Light boycott, which was notably triggered by transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Despite years of marketing initiatives like “Choose Beers Grown Here” and “Made in America,” CASE argues these campaigns obscure the fact that AB InBev’s headquarters are in Belgium, rather than the heartland of America as the ads imply.
The report discusses AB InBev’s ongoing disagreements with the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its acquisition of a major stake in Mexican beer producer Grupo Modelo. Even though the company was allowed to go ahead with this $20 billion deal, the DOJ mandated that Modelo beer rights in the U.S. be sold to Constellation Brands to avert monopolistic practices.
Interestingly, while the DOJ settlement benefited the craft beer sector—resulting in an increase in independent breweries from roughly 4,803 in 2015 to about 9,578 in 2025—watchdog groups argue that it doesn’t adequately tackle the established distribution challenges that small brewers face. The report notes that AB InBev pushes larger distributors to favor its products, leaving smaller breweries at a loss when trying to secure reliable distribution routes.
The report states that while the DOJ agreement improved market conditions for craft brewers, it did not directly aid them and left many distribution issues unresolved. Additionally, AB InBev is lobbying for the elimination of sales taxes on its products, potentially aiming for similar efforts at the federal level, coinciding with negotiations around the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
CASE emphasizes that AB InBev controls nearly half of the U.S. beer market. They caution that any significant tax cuts on “American beer” would disproportionately benefit foreign corporations, like AB InBev, which have previously praised Canadian labor and resources amidst trade tensions.
The organization urges U.S. lawmakers to confront AB InBev’s distribution practices, oppose further tax breaks, and ensure the company doesn’t gain excessive market power, which the DOJ has historically worried about.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, CASE argues that politicians shouldn’t pick market winners and losers, especially by favoring foreign interests with substantial tax cuts.
AB InBev has faced considerable scrutiny from legislators, with discussions around its market dominance ongoing. The company’s former CEO, Carlos Brito, defended its practices during a Senate hearing amid a significant merger with SABMiller worth $107 billion, which brought numerous job losses and disrupted longstanding partnerships with local advertising agencies.
Inquiries were made to AB InBev before the publication of this report.
