Big Beer Blitzes America: Is Anheuser-Busch Too Powerful? Panel 1

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Published Feb 17, 2025

Big Beer Blitzes America:
Is Anheuser-Busch Too Powerful?

Two companies -- Anheuser-Busch Inbev and MillerCoors -- together control 90 percent of the U.S. beer market. And they still seek more — Anheuser-Busch now wants to buy out all of Mexico's Grupo Modelo, the maker of Corona.

The effects of this consolidated power are clear. Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors are using their control to squeeze independent beer distributors and marginalize craft beer makers, hurting both America's drinkers and brewers. Worse, the assault on distributors threatens to break down America's system of local alcohol control, established at the end of Prohibition to safeguard social order and promote the health of consumers.

Join the New America Foundation for a conversation on how citizens should structure a modern market for beer, wine and alcohol that balances the interests of society, responsible drinkers, brewers and distillers. The discussion will draw on a new report by the New America Foundation's Markets, Enterprise, and Resiliency Initiative that looks at the history of the U.S. beer market, a new report by the American Antitrust Institute on Anheuser-Busch's proposed takeover of Grupo Modelo, and a new article in the Washington Monthly on the growing alcoholism in Britain.

Panel 1: The Market and Choice - Is Consolidation A Threat to the Consumer?

Panelists
Sam Calagione
Founder and President, Dogfish Head Brewery

Steve Higginbotham
Director, Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas

Sandeep Vaheesan
Special Counsel, American Antitrust Institute

Moderator
Barry C. Lynn
Director, Markets, Enterprise, and Resiliency Initiative, New America Foundation

http://newamerica.net/events/2012/big_beer_blitzes_america