Beer Over People – How AB InBev Drains Mexico’s Water

Mexico’s water crisis isn’t just about climate change – it’s about corporate greed. While communities face severe droughts and water shortages, multinational beer giant AB InBev, through its subsidiary Grupo Modelo, continues to extract vast amounts of water at an alarming rate. A recent investigative report by Sol Yucatán lays bare how Modelo’s beer production is depleting local water reserves, prioritizing corporate profits over the basic needs of people.

The report reveals how Grupo Modelo is not just using massive amounts of water – it’s draining communities dry. In the Altiplano region, where water access is already precarious, Modelo extracts billions of liters annually for its beer production. Meanwhile, residents endure severe water restrictions, with some communities struggling to access even minimal daily water supplies. The issue isn’t new, nor is it unique to Mexico – AB InBev and other alcohol giants have a long history of exploiting water resources with little regard for the people affected.

A Pattern of Water Exploitation

Grupo Modelo’s actions in Mexico are part of a broader, global pattern of water exploitation by Big Alcohol. Similar cases have been documented in other regions where alcohol production takes precedence over community needs:

• Previous investigations into AB InBev’s water footprint in Mexico have shown how the company extracts enormous volumes of water while local communities suffer from shortages. Activists have repeatedly called out the government for allowing this unchecked corporate extraction at the expense of public welfare (Big Alcohol’s Water Footprint in Mexico).
• In Indonesia, alcohol industry waste has been found polluting water sources, further exacerbating environmental degradation and threatening community health (Movendi International).
• Globally, Big Alcohol treats water as a commodity rather than a public resource. The fight for water justice is growing as corporations continue to exploit a resource that should belong to the people, not multinational corporations (Movendi International).

Corporate Greenwashing Doesn’t Change the Reality

Grupo Modelo and AB InBev routinely present themselves as champions of sustainability, boasting about water conservation programs and “responsible” business practices. However, their actions tell a different story. The sheer volume of water they extract and the environmental damage they leave behind paint a clear picture of corporate hypocrisy.

The consequences of Grupo Modelo’s over-extraction of water extend beyond household shortages. Farmers, already struggling with erratic weather patterns, are finding it increasingly difficult to irrigate crops due to depleted water sources. Public health is also at risk, as water scarcity forces communities to rely on unsafe and unreliable water supplies.

Water is a human right – not a corporate asset. The Mexican government must take urgent action to stop these exploitative practices and ensure that communities have the water they need to survive. Meanwhile, Big Alcohol’s role in the water crisis must not be ignored. Holding these corporations accountable is essential to protecting both people and the planet.

Sabotage is Big Alcohol’s deliberate actions to damage and obstruct people’s access to public goods. This strategy comprises calculated actions to break and undermine society’s rules, laws, and regulations. This strategy also includes willful activity that jeopardizes people’s access to essential resources such as water and basic food. And it includes Big Alcohol’s deliberate activities to damage or disrupt the proper functioning of society’s institutions, preventing them from addressing alcohol-related harm in the public interest. Examples of this strategy include corruption, bribery, tax evasion and avoidance, price-fixing cartels, violations of alcohol marketing rules, and other unethical practices, such as depleting scarce drinking water.

Source:
https://solyucatan.mx/no-es-sequia-es-saqueo/

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