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This week in 1983, anti-alcohol activist Michael Jacobson and Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI) attacked beer industry advertising. Jacobson petitioned FTC to "ban all youth-oriented alcohol beverage marketing efforts, such as sponsorships of rock concerts and beer-tasting parties on college campuses, promotion of athletic events, and giveaway of tee shirts," wrote INSIGHTS. He also called for a ban on using former athletes, or "any show business or music celebrities" in ads or promotions. Well, none of that has happened in the 42 yrs since. CSPI argued FTC had legal authority to step in even tho these activities were under BATF jurisdiction. Petition had support of many orgs like American Public Health Assoc and PTA, as well as owner of several brewers at various times, Paul Kalmanovitz - "whose companies do little advertising," noted INSIGHTS. Kalmanovitz claimed newspaper ads and POS materials were "more than adequate" to attract attention of "proper consumers." This week in 2000, word on Corona pricing planning was getting out. "We believe there will be no price increase on Corona in 2001," Jennifer Solomon of Salomon Smith Barney wrote investors, "based on conversations with industry contacts." The top import hadn't gone up in price in 2000 either, following 6% or so price hike in '99. Corona's non-move "may also limit pricing actions by other major imported brands," she wrote. "The end result is that the price gap between imported and domestic beers will narrow, potentially further enhancing the market share gains of imports." Constellation is reportedly looking to narrow gap again, at least on some of its brands, in 2026.This week in 2001, Miller/Coors distributors were poppin' up everywhere, reported INSIGHTS. In south Fla, Gold Coast (Coors, imports), which already had deal to buy JJ Taylor (Miller) in Miami, agreed to another deal to eliminate "footprint" issues with William Thies & Sons. Gold Coast would swap some of its Coors, imports with some of Thies's Miller and imports. Upon closing, the 2 cos would sell same Miller/Coors/import portfolios but without overlaps in territory (AB distribs negotiating for Corona in part of territory). "When these 2 transactions close, Gold Coast will sell over 19 mil cases," noted INSIGHTS. And in northern Calif, Burke Bev (Miller, imports) had deal to sell to 4 different distribs, 2 Coors and 2 AB. Yep, the Bud guys were getting Corona, tho not at same prices as on East Coast. And longtime Bay Area Coors distribs Bay Area Bev and Coors of Contra Costa were becoming Coors/Miller distribs.This week in 2002, malternatives were heavily criticized in media. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Milwaukee Jnl-Sentinel and St Paul Pioneer Press each ran a feature about malternatives. Lengthy Philly Inq investigation headlined "Malt Assault" and hammered charges that malternatives targeted to kids. In addition to usual comments from CSPI and MADD, master brewer/prexy of Victory Brewing took aim too. Said BATF's approval of malternatives as beer products was "reckless and definitely damaging to the [beer] industry" and said he feared beer biz going down tobacco road with these products. At least the Philly Inq article quoted other industry sources that denied youth link. St Paul paper didn't bother; it just quoted CSPI and MADD. Milwaukee Jnl stuck to biz issues, focused on different views of growth potential, brand clutter.This week in 2003, it was announced that Miller was getting Peroni brand. SABMiller (which owned brand) said it would take over Peroni sales in US when its contract with Barton ended in Jan '05. Peroni, a small specialized import, shipped under a half-mil cases. "Interestingly, earlier in 03, Interbrew examined its choices and stayed with Barton for much larger St. Pauli Girl brand," noted INSIGHTS. In 2026, Peroni will get a big push from Molson Coors.This week in 2004, ongoing concern about consumers switching from beer to liquor, which was a major theme at our annual Seminar that yr, carried over into the small brewers conference. Consultant Bob Weinberg provided chart of long-term swings in share of alc bev "servings" that showed liquor currently risin' and beer fallin'. Key: if shifts are the same "long cycles" as occurred in past, "it will be a while before total malt beverage sales will grow&hellip;vigorously," Bob pointed out. IRI's Bump Williams reiterated 10 reasons why drinkers were switching to liquor but suggested craft brewers were in better position than big brewers to respond given their image and growing appeal among entry-level drinkers.This week in 2005, Berkshire Hathaway finally disclosed stake in AB stock and it was sizable to say least. Warren Buffett's co held 44.7 mil shares as of Sep 30 that yr, according to documents filed with SEC. That amounted to 5.8% of AB stock and made Berkshire Hathaway the single largest shareholder, about 2 mil more shares than previous largest shareholder Barclay's Bank. A 5% stake is threshold over which govt required disclosure. Turned out Buffett had already begun accumulating AB shares in '04. At end of yr, Berkshire owned 9 mil shares that were then worth $482 mil. "Interestingly, Buffett reduced stake by 2 mil shares from end of 2d qtr to end of 3d qtr. Why? Stock certainly hadn't gained much since Buffett bought his huge stake. Then again, he was known for placing large long-term bets and holding 'em," noted INSIGHTS. When AB was sold, Berkshire made around $1.36 bil, but had sold lots of shares before InBev made move, which could have added up to another $1 bil bucks.This week in 2011, INSIGHTS wondered, "Do drinkers really care where their beer is brewed?" That question was raised anew with ABI announcement that all Beck's would be made in US in order to provide "flexibility," as Import, Craft and Specialty brand group veep Andy Goeler told distribs. Beck's joined growing list of former imports that switched to domestic production - Foster's, Red Stripe, Kirin, etc - "even as the brands keep their foreign catchphrases," as Ad Age noted in extensive article. Unclear how consumers would react to Beck's move, tho Andy said young adult consumers were just fine with US production. But Ad Age quoted Heineken USA mktg veep Laurent Theodore that "if you play in the import segment, you need to be an import." Also: "origin is still important for new and undocumented immigrants" from Mexico, pointed out demographer Robert Schmidt, and that made a difference for Modelo and FEMSA brands. Since then many more "imports" have moved production to US, including Stella, Peroni, Sapporo and Labatt.

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