As beer market loses froth, brewing giant abi loses ‘share of throat’ – The Economist

EDINBURGH — In the UK, the news is awash with concerns that we all drink too much – particularly the 'middle-aged' and upwards. More people are dying from drink-related illnesses, with the Guardian reporting that deaths from alcohol misuse were highest among 60- to 64-year-olds in 2017, at 29.7 per 100,000, overtaking 50- to 54-year-olds, who had the highest rate in 2001. Broken down by sex, death rates were highest among 55- to 59-year-old women and 60- to 64-year-old men. But, behind this scary story there is another trend: younger people are drinking less and it is becoming increasingly cool not to drink alcohol. While some people have a preference for drugs, others are choosing not to indulge at all. Beer, in particular, is losing its attraction. This trend might be music to the ears of healthcare funders, but it has worrying long-term implications for shareholders in global beer giant abi, as The Economist explains. – Jackie Cameron

By Thulasizwe Sithole

The global beer industry is under pressure, as consumers switch to other tipple – and teetotal lifestyles. That's the message from The Economist, which analyses what's likely for beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (abi), which has swallowed up all its major competitors, shrunk costs and has nowhere left to go to grow revenues.

The Economist points out that abi reigns over global brewing, selling almost three Olympic-sized swimming pools of beer an hour – more than its three nearest rivals combined.

"abi, which is nominally based in the Flemish city of Leuven but run out of New York, is not just much bigger than its rivals, selling one in four beers worldwide. It also generates around half the industry's global profits.

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