Alcohol Trends: Decreasing Consumption Rates with Potential Growth in Innovation and M&A
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 13 2025
0mins
Source: SeekingAlpha
Decline in Alcohol Consumption: The percentage of U.S. adults consuming alcohol has dropped to a multi-decade low of about 54%, with significant declines among younger adults under 35, influenced by changing health perceptions and the rise of no- and low-alcohol alternatives.
Spending Trends: Bank of America reported an 8.6% year-over-year decline in spending at U.S. alcohol stores, with younger generations like Gen-Z and Millennials showing the largest decreases in alcohol-related purchases.
Health Consciousness and Social Changes: Increased awareness of health risks associated with alcohol, along with economic pressures and shifts in social behaviors, such as earlier socializing and online engagement, are contributing to reduced alcohol consumption.
Market Implications and Industry Shifts: The decline in alcohol consumption is affecting major beverage companies, prompting non-alcoholic brands to enter the alcohol market, while traditional alcohol companies explore new product lines, indicating potential for future mergers and acquisitions in the sector.
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Analyst Views on BUD
Wall Street analysts forecast BUD stock price to fall
2 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 82.350
Low
75.00
Averages
80.00
High
85.00
Current: 82.350
Low
75.00
Averages
80.00
High
85.00
About BUD
Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA is a Belgium-based company. The Company is primarily engaged in the manufacturing of beer. The Company operates through six segments: North America, Middle Americas, South America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, Global Export and Holding companies. The Company's brand portfolio includes global brands, such as Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois; international brands, including Beck's, Leffe and Hoegaarden, and local champions, such as Bud Light, Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Quilmes, Victoria, Modelo Especial, Michelob Ultra, Harbin, Sedrin, Klinskoye, Sibirskaya Korona, Chernigivske, Cass and Jupiler. The Company's soft drinks business consists of both own production and agreements with PepsiCo related to bottling and distribution arrangements between its various subsidiaries and PepsiCo. Ambev, which is a subsidiary of the Company, is a PepsiCo bottler. Brands that are distributed under these agreements are Pepsi, 7UP and Gatorade.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Anheuser-Busch Launches First Mobile Bar to Honor American Farmers
- Mobile Bar Launch: Anheuser-Busch introduces the first-of-its-kind 10-ton, 400+ sq. ft. mobile bar, ComBar, designed to honor American farmers and reinforce the company's commitment to U.S. agriculture.
- Significant Investment: The company invests $700 million annually in sourcing high-quality ingredients from 700 American farmers, ensuring that its beers are made with U.S.-grown components, thereby strengthening its market position.
- Nationwide Tour: The ComBar will embark on a nationwide tour in summer 2026, participating in various agricultural and community events to encourage consumers to choose products made with U.S.-grown ingredients, enhancing brand image.
- Celebrating America's 250th: Coinciding with America's 250th birthday, the launch of ComBar serves not only as a tribute to farmers but also as a support for American agriculture, aiming to increase consumer recognition of local products.
See More
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- Unanimous Board Decision: Anheuser-Busch appointed Dirk Van de Put as its new chairman in a unanimous board decision, reflecting the company's strong endorsement of his leadership capabilities, which is expected to further drive its brand-driven growth strategy.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Van de Put has served as an independent director since April 2023 and brings three decades of global consumer packaged goods experience, having held executive roles at Mondelez and McCain Foods, which can provide valuable industry insights to Anheuser-Busch.
- Independent Chair Structure: The appointment maintains an independent chair structure aimed at reinforcing the company's brand-driven growth in both developed and emerging markets, demonstrating Anheuser-Busch's commitment to its long-term strategy.
- Financial Recovery Momentum: Anheuser-Busch's shares have rebounded strongly after facing brand and macro challenges, with steady growth in revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow rebuilding investor confidence, showcasing the company's competitive position in the market.
See More
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- Agricultural Commitment Enhanced: Anheuser-Busch's ComBar, a mobile bar crafted from a real combine harvester, symbolizes the company's 165-year commitment to U.S. agriculture, aiming to elevate consumer awareness of locally sourced ingredients.
- Substantial Investment in Farmers: Annually, Anheuser-Busch invests $700 million in 700 American farmers to ensure that the high-quality barley, rice, corn, and hops used in its beers are sourced from the U.S., further solidifying its leadership in the industry.
- Nationwide Tour: The ComBar will embark on a nationwide tour coinciding with America's 250th birthday, appearing at major agricultural and community events to encourage consumers to choose beers made with U.S.-grown ingredients, thereby supporting local farmers.
- Brand Image Enhancement: The ComBar serves not only as a 10-ton mobile bar but also as a unique tribute to American farmers, enhancing Anheuser-Busch's brand image and market influence through its distinctive design and functionality.
See More
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- Long-term Commitment: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million commitment to its U.S. operations across 2025 and 2026, demonstrating the company's focus on the U.S. market and its strategic positioning in the competitive beer industry.
- Skills Training Center: The company plans to open one of 15 new technical skills training centers nationwide in St. Louis, aiming to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, which will enhance overall production efficiency and employee skill levels, thereby strengthening the company's competitiveness.
- Iconic Sign Relocation: Anheuser-Busch will also move its animated 'A & Eagle' sign from its former Newark facility to the St. Louis campus, further solidifying its brand presence in Missouri and celebrating its recent induction into the Missouri Manufacturers Hall of Fame.
See More
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- Facility Upgrade Investment: Anheuser-Busch has announced an investment of over $20 million in its St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri operations to upgrade brewing and packaging equipment, thereby enhancing production capacity for Michelob ULTRA, further solidifying its leading position in the U.S. market.
- Technical Training Center: The investment will also fund the opening of a new technical skills training center at the St. Louis Brewery, aiming to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, enhancing the company's technical capabilities in mechanical, electrical, and digital areas to foster employee career development.
- Community Commitment: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million Brewing Futures initiative, reflecting the company's long-term commitment to the Missouri and St. Louis communities by creating and sustaining manufacturing jobs and driving local economic prosperity.
- Legacy Commemoration: To commemorate this significant investment, Anheuser-Busch will relocate the animated 'A & Eagle' sign from its former Newark facility to its St. Louis headquarters, symbolizing the company's ongoing commitment to local manufacturing and support for the community.
See More
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- Facility Upgrade Investment: Anheuser-Busch announces over $20 million investment in its St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri operations aimed at upgrading brewing and packaging equipment, thereby enhancing production capacity for Michelob ULTRA, solidifying its leading position in the U.S. market.
- Future Development Initiative: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million 'Brewing Futures' initiative, which aims to drive growth in U.S. operations through 2025 and 2026, creating and sustaining manufacturing jobs, particularly supporting career development for veterans.
- Technical Training Center: The new investment will also fund a technical skills training center at the St. Louis Brewery, with plans to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, enhancing employees' mechanical, electrical, and digital operational skills to boost overall company competitiveness.
- Community Commitment: Anheuser-Busch's investment in St. Louis not only supports the local economy but also symbolizes its long-term commitment to the community by relocating the 'A & Eagle' sign from its Newark facility to its St. Louis headquarters, further reinforcing its status as a leading American manufacturer.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Launches First Mobile Bar to Honor American Farmers
- Mobile Bar Launch: Anheuser-Busch introduces the first-of-its-kind 10-ton, 400+ sq. ft. mobile bar, ComBar, designed to honor American farmers and reinforce the company's commitment to U.S. agriculture.
- Significant Investment: The company invests $700 million annually in sourcing high-quality ingredients from 700 American farmers, ensuring that its beers are made with U.S.-grown components, thereby strengthening its market position.
- Nationwide Tour: The ComBar will embark on a nationwide tour in summer 2026, participating in various agricultural and community events to encourage consumers to choose products made with U.S.-grown ingredients, enhancing brand image.
- Celebrating America's 250th: Coinciding with America's 250th birthday, the launch of ComBar serves not only as a tribute to farmers but also as a support for American agriculture, aiming to increase consumer recognition of local products.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Appoints New Chairman Dirk Van de Put
- Unanimous Board Decision: Anheuser-Busch appointed Dirk Van de Put as its new chairman in a unanimous board decision, reflecting the company's strong endorsement of his leadership capabilities, which is expected to further drive its brand-driven growth strategy.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Van de Put has served as an independent director since April 2023 and brings three decades of global consumer packaged goods experience, having held executive roles at Mondelez and McCain Foods, which can provide valuable industry insights to Anheuser-Busch.
- Independent Chair Structure: The appointment maintains an independent chair structure aimed at reinforcing the company's brand-driven growth in both developed and emerging markets, demonstrating Anheuser-Busch's commitment to its long-term strategy.
- Financial Recovery Momentum: Anheuser-Busch's shares have rebounded strongly after facing brand and macro challenges, with steady growth in revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow rebuilding investor confidence, showcasing the company's competitive position in the market.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Launches First Mobile Bar from Combine Harvester
- Agricultural Commitment Enhanced: Anheuser-Busch's ComBar, a mobile bar crafted from a real combine harvester, symbolizes the company's 165-year commitment to U.S. agriculture, aiming to elevate consumer awareness of locally sourced ingredients.
- Substantial Investment in Farmers: Annually, Anheuser-Busch invests $700 million in 700 American farmers to ensure that the high-quality barley, rice, corn, and hops used in its beers are sourced from the U.S., further solidifying its leadership in the industry.
- Nationwide Tour: The ComBar will embark on a nationwide tour coinciding with America's 250th birthday, appearing at major agricultural and community events to encourage consumers to choose beers made with U.S.-grown ingredients, thereby supporting local farmers.
- Brand Image Enhancement: The ComBar serves not only as a 10-ton mobile bar but also as a unique tribute to American farmers, enhancing Anheuser-Busch's brand image and market influence through its distinctive design and functionality.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Invests $20 Million to Expand Production
- Expansion Investment: Anheuser-Busch will invest over $20 million in its St. Louis brewery and Arnold can manufacturing plant to upgrade brewing and packaging equipment, thereby boosting production capacity for the rapidly growing Michelob ULTRA beer and other brands to meet market demand.
- Long-term Commitment: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million commitment to its U.S. operations across 2025 and 2026, demonstrating the company's focus on the U.S. market and its strategic positioning in the competitive beer industry.
- Skills Training Center: The company plans to open one of 15 new technical skills training centers nationwide in St. Louis, aiming to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, which will enhance overall production efficiency and employee skill levels, thereby strengthening the company's competitiveness.
- Iconic Sign Relocation: Anheuser-Busch will also move its animated 'A & Eagle' sign from its former Newark facility to the St. Louis campus, further solidifying its brand presence in Missouri and celebrating its recent induction into the Missouri Manufacturers Hall of Fame.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Invests Over $20 Million to Upgrade Facilities
- Facility Upgrade Investment: Anheuser-Busch has announced an investment of over $20 million in its St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri operations to upgrade brewing and packaging equipment, thereby enhancing production capacity for Michelob ULTRA, further solidifying its leading position in the U.S. market.
- Technical Training Center: The investment will also fund the opening of a new technical skills training center at the St. Louis Brewery, aiming to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, enhancing the company's technical capabilities in mechanical, electrical, and digital areas to foster employee career development.
- Community Commitment: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million Brewing Futures initiative, reflecting the company's long-term commitment to the Missouri and St. Louis communities by creating and sustaining manufacturing jobs and driving local economic prosperity.
- Legacy Commemoration: To commemorate this significant investment, Anheuser-Busch will relocate the animated 'A & Eagle' sign from its former Newark facility to its St. Louis headquarters, symbolizing the company's ongoing commitment to local manufacturing and support for the community.
See More
Anheuser-Busch Invests Over $20 Million to Upgrade Facilities
- Facility Upgrade Investment: Anheuser-Busch announces over $20 million investment in its St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri operations aimed at upgrading brewing and packaging equipment, thereby enhancing production capacity for Michelob ULTRA, solidifying its leading position in the U.S. market.
- Future Development Initiative: This investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's $600 million 'Brewing Futures' initiative, which aims to drive growth in U.S. operations through 2025 and 2026, creating and sustaining manufacturing jobs, particularly supporting career development for veterans.
- Technical Training Center: The new investment will also fund a technical skills training center at the St. Louis Brewery, with plans to train over 90% of its manufacturing workforce over the next five years, enhancing employees' mechanical, electrical, and digital operational skills to boost overall company competitiveness.
- Community Commitment: Anheuser-Busch's investment in St. Louis not only supports the local economy but also symbolizes its long-term commitment to the community by relocating the 'A & Eagle' sign from its Newark facility to its St. Louis headquarters, further reinforcing its status as a leading American manufacturer.
See More
