This company profile of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) exposes the practices of the world’s largest beer producer. It highlights examples of the company’s strategies of political interference, promotion, sabotage, manipulation, and deception, known as the Dubious Five strategies

Introduction

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) was formed in 2008 through the merger of InBev and Anheuser-Busch, combining two of the world’s largest brewers. Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, AB InBev is listed on Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, it operates in over 50 countries and holds the position of the world’s largest beer producer, with a portfolio that spans global, local, and no-alcohol brands. Michel Doukeris has been the Chief Executive Officer since July 2021.

AB InBev is a beer giant created by multiple take-overs of competitors:

  • AB InBev was formed through the Belgian InBev acquiring the American company Anheuser-Busch.
  • InBev itself was a beer giant created by the merger of Belgium-based Interbrew and Brazilian beer giant AmBev in 2004. It existed independently until the take-over by Anheuser-Busch in 2008, which formed Anheuser-Busch InBev.
    • The beer giant became the largest beer producer in the world.
  • AB InBev took over its main competitor SABMiller in October 2016. At the time SABMiller was the second largest beer brewer worldwide by revenue.
    • The new “beerhemoth” controls more than 500 beer brands sold in over 150 countries. Their international brands include Beck’s, Stella Artois, Brahmas, Budweiser, Corona, Leffe and Hoegaarden.
  • Anheuser-Busch InBev generated global revenue of over $59 billion in 2023. This was an increase over the $57 billion dollars in revenue in 2022. 

Our biggest opportunity is in the beer category, which is inclusive, natural, and local. We want to move from being the category leader to leading category growth.”

– AB InBev Annual Report 2021 

Fast Facts about AB InBev

  • Total revenue (2023): USD59.4 Billion
  • Net profit (2023): USD20.0 Billion
  • Marketing spending (2023): USD7.2 Billion
  • Lobbying spending (US, 2022): USD5,100,000
  • Lobbying spending (EU, 2022): EUR300,000–399,999
  • Total volume beer sold (2023): 518 Million hl
  • Global beer market share (2023): 27.4%
  • Number of employees (2023): 169,000
  • Worldwide operations: 50 countrie

Brands

Local megabrands

  • Aguila
  • Brahma
  • Carling Black Label
  • Cass Fresh
  • Jupiler
  • Quilmes
  • Skol
  • Victoria

Global brands

  • Stella Artois
  • Budweiser
  • Corona Extra
  • Michelob ULTRA

No-alcohol

  • Budweiser Zero
  • Corona 0.0
  • Stella Artois Liberté

Ready-to-drink (RTD)

  • Brutal Fruit
  • Cutware
  • Nütrl

MANAGEMENT TEAM AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Martin J. Barrington, Board Chair
  • Lynne Biggar, Director
  • Michele Burns, Director
  • Dr. Aradhana Sarin, Director
  • Dirk Van de Put, Director
  • Sabine Chalmers, Director
  • Paul Cornet de Ways Ruart, Director
  • Claudio Moniz Barreto Garcia, Director
  • Paulo Alberto Lemann, Director
  • Nitin Nohria, Director
  • Alexandre van Damme, Director
  • Alejandro Santo Domingo Dávila, Director
  • Michel Doukeris, President and Chief Executive Officer

front groups

Interfering in policy and science AB InBev front groups are designed to advance long-term public relations goals to interfere in both policy and science.  Source

Unethical practices by AB InBev

Misconduct Report Mar 4 '26 Manipulation, Promotion
AB InBev Turned Mexico City’s Main Square into a Beer Ad for 400,000 People

On 1 March 2026, Grupo Modelo – the Mexican subsidiary of AB InBev, the world’s largest beer producer – staged a free Shakira ...
Misconduct Report Mar 3 '26 Deception, Political interference
How Big Alcohol Stole the Budget: Inside the Industry Campaign That Derailed South Africa’s Alcohol Tax Ambitions

South Africa’s 2026 Budget set alcohol excise at a 3.4% increase – a clear retreat from last year’s above-inflation adjustment and a ...
Misconduct Report Feb 23 '26 Promotion
AB InBev Turns World Cup 2026 Into a $7.2 Billion Alcohol Marketing Machine

As FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches (June 11–July 19), AB InBev is executing its most aggressive alcohol marketing campaign yet, ...
Misconduct Report Feb 16 '26 Promotion
AB InBev Turns Netflix’s Bridgerton Into a Marketing Channel for Alcopops in Brazil

AB InBev subsidiary Ambev is using Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton to market flavoured alcoholic beverages to young women in Brazil. ...
Misconduct Report Feb 10 '26 Promotion
$100 Million in Alcohol Marketing, 25 Million Children: Big Alcohol’s Super Bowl Blitz

The alcohol industry spent $100 million marketing to Super Bowl 2026’s 115 million viewers. An estimated 25 million were children. ...
Misconduct Report Feb 4 '26 Manipulation, Promotion
Olympic Athletes Now Sell Beer for AB InBev – Under the Banner of “Relaxation”

Ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, AB InBev is once again weaponising sport to push its Corona brand – this time ...