a rush of buyouts and mergers in the last years of the Bush Administration has left two overseas giants in control of 80 percent of American beer consumption.
As recently as 2004, ten companies fought over world consumption; today Belgium-based InBev (Anheuser-Busch InBev) controls 25 percent of the world's beer market. SABMiller, the second largest brewer with 15 percent of the market, is a London-based conglomerate that formed when South African Breweries acquired U.S.-owned Miller in 2002.
2003, American-owned Anheuser-Busch was the world's largest beer company
In 2004, the world's third and fifth largest brewers, Belgian Interbrew and Brazilian AmBev, merged to create the world's largest beer producer, AmBev.
2008, AmBev bought Anheuser-Busch for $52 billion to become InBev
2007
SABMiller announced a joint venture with Molson Coors
Americans are discovering that companies that once served their interest now determine their lives. Although some continue to support unregulated "free enterprise," others find that powerful monopolies now determine government policy. It's time to limit political contributions and control lobbying.
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