College Complaints Squash Some Bud Light 'Fan Cans'

New beer comes amid slumping sales for Anheuser-Busch

(NEWSER) - Tastes great, less filling, and more intoxicating? Anheuser-Busch is rolling out what the LA Times calls a "long-germinating beer concept" that it hopes is all that and a bag of chips. Dubbed Bud Light Platinum, the beer will have a robust 6% alcohol by volume, 137 calories, and an eye clearly on the burgeoning craft beer industry. Regular Bud Light has 4.2% ABV and 110 calories, while Bud sports 5% and 145 calories. More»

Sponsor cites concern over 'certain remarks' made by athletes

(NEWSER) - After a series of sexist and homophobic comments from Ultimate Fighting Championship competitors, sponsor Anheuser-Busch has had it. The company issued a warning to the UFC over "certain remarks made by some of its fighters," says a spokesman. "If the incidents continue, we will act." Advocacy groups have slammed the UFC for a number of comments. In one instance, fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson encouraged a Japanese-speaking viewer to say "I'm a fag," AdAge reports. More»

Market share falling for big US brewers

(NEWSER) - Anheuser-Busch InBev is desperate to turn its sales around. Sure, it's still the biggest beer company in the US, but shipments have fallen for three straight years, thanks to the growing popularity of small, independent craft brewers. But this year Budweiser's got a plan, president of North American operations Luiz Edmond tells the Wall Street Journal : It's going to produce more beers, while leaning on distributors not to carry the competition. Anheuser will introduce 19 new products this year, its biggest rollout since the InBev merger. More»

University of Wisconsin party hosts slapped with 130 citations

(NEWSER) - Three University of Wisconsin students are facing more than $86,000 in fines for what could be one of the most expensive beer parties in history. Police showed up at the Madison students' house party last month and found a couple hundred guests paying $5 per cup. The students were cited with more than 130 charges, including dispensing alcohol without a permit and supplying alcohol to underage drinkers. More»

(NEWSER) - Bud Light is rolling out cans in the colors of the nation's big colleges just in time for football season—and that has some schools fuming, the Wall Street Journal reports. Colleges worried about binge drinking think they'll be seen as sponsors of the “Fan Cans” campaign, which boasts 27 different color schemes and begins this month. “Show your true colors with Bud Light,” says the campaign, adding that the cans are "made for gameday." More»