The Belgian beer giant has abused the science for its commercial motives via industry-funded research in many instances. Among the most recent cases, as reported by the AB InBev company website in September 2021 a case study was carried out to examine AB InBev’s impact on reducing “the harmful use of alcohol” through its so called Smart Drinking Goals.

The study was funded by the company’s established AB InBev foundation and the study was conducted by the Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington DC.  The study itself has some quality assurance issues as it contains contradicting statements which foster conflict of interest affecting the content, quality and use of such studies funded by the company itself to consider it as “independent research”; As the publication states ABInBev Foundation is transparently funded by the AB InBev but an independent organization governed and led by scientists and public health experts.

The study has evaluated the progress of the five-year implementation of the Smart Drinking Goals. Unsurprisingly results have affirmed that the company’s approach is a significant investment towards reducing the harmful use of alcohol stating that:

“AB InBev, from the top down, has dedicated time, energy and significant financial resources to achieving SDGs, and it intends to continue so for many years to come.”

This is clear evidence of how strong the company tried to shape and influence scientific findings in favor of their norm-setting on alcohol use.