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This week in 1999, a study found "no scientific evidence" linking consumption of beer, wine or spirits to weight gain, as French researcher told Beer and Health Symposium in Brussels. And a German researcher found that for women who drank beer, "all but the most excessive intake of beer apparently keeps weight down." He added, "teetotalers" were "slightly fatter" than all other groups of women except heavy drinkers. Daily beer consumption (his measure was 2 1/2 pints per day) "seems to be associated with lower mortality." German prof summed it up like so: "It is now clear that a hearty taste for alcohol brings with it quite astonishingly healthy advantages." That view has certainly changed over 25 yrs later. This week in 2004, INSIGHTS noted AB was making some headway in contentious Kentucky. AB met in Las Vegas that past Aug with KY distribs and subsequent pressure didn't move distribs to join new assn that consisted of AB branch and 2d-largest distrib in state. But AB was more successful this time as two more distribs said they would join new assn. And a 3d distrib, Smith Brothers in Bardstown, was going to be bought by AB branch in Louisville by yr-end. Louisville branch would then be ~7 mil cases. Louisville branch ultimately sold to Standard Sales in 2015.This week in 2006, AB received an analyst upgrade following deal to import InBev brands, but there were questions raised too. Deal "demonstrates AB's willingness to 'go where the growth is,'" and "helps allay investor concerns about its portfolio," wrote UBS's Kaumil Gajrawala as he upgraded AB stock from "reduce" to "neutral." Others called deal "positive." While Bear Sterns' Carlos Laboy also acknowledged that deal "will be perceived as an immediate positive for both parties," he said, "the economics and duration of the deal are, and will likely remain unavailable and we find this concerning." Carlos wasn't "surprised by AB's reluctance to disclose the terms of the deal. We believe that InBev's control group, one of the sharpest negotiating groups we have encountered, had tremendous leverage for swinging a deal with AB on their terms." Those sharp negotiating skills at InBev came in handy two yrs later.This week in 2007, "the 'Golden Case' concept is alive and well," wrote consultant Andy Christon, providing previously unavailable details from recent distrib arbitration victory first revealed by Pyramid Brewing in its quarterly report. Turned out Sound Bev Distrib got $586K for 15,000 cases in arbitration ruling in Washington. That amounted to $40 per case, 8X GP but included distribution rights, pre-award interest, expert and attorney fees. Those cases represented less than 1% of Sound's total volume of 2 mil cases at the time and were therefore "a true 'golden case' or bolt-on brand," wrote Andy. Sound Bev continued to operate until selling to AB branch early this yr, by then selling under 1 mil cases/yr.This week in 2008, AdAge reported: "After 16 years, Corona is leaving the beach, everywhere but in the US," as Corona was undergoing a "global repositioning" under just-formed ABI, visible at its relaunched website. Co emphasized "refreshing moments." New brand position "handed down by Corona itself," Atmosphere BBDO (agency) creative director told AdAge. But in US: "We're planning to stay on the beach," said Crown spokesman. "That's not going to change." Recently departed (at the time) top Crown mktg exec Tom McNichols was "a key advocate and defender of the beachfront strategy," wrote mag.This week in 2013, an analysis showed the sky didn't fall as predicted when Washington state privatized liquor sales. "Law enforcement data shows the worst predictions of opponents" to liquor privatization in WA "have not materialized." So claimed free-mkt think tank WA Policy Center after reviewing some alc-related harm stats. Public health advocates and other privatization foes "said privatization would lead to an increase in alcohol-related arrests," WPC reminded, noting: "It hasn't." For example, DUI collisions, which had been trending down, continued to do so, from 2,861 in 2008-2009 to 2,347 in 2012-13. (Private sales of liquor started in June 2012.) DUI arrests fell as well, from over 21K each yr 2008-2012 to below 20K in most recent period. Similarly, arrests for open containers, minors in possession and selling liquor to minors all continued to fall after privatization. Then too, compliance rates - refusing sales to minors - were approx the same for private biz as they were for state stores, over 90%. Finally, "though concerns have been expressed about minors stealing liquor at private stores, hard data does not exist to document the extent of any problem," according to WPC.This week in 2014, AB became the first beer co to place ads on Instagram. AB was making more strides to connect with millennial consumers and wasn't just focused on Bud family of brands. AB started "running six photos" of Stella Artois on Instagram, for the holidays starting Dec 1, marking "the first beer maker to buy ads from Instagram," noted Adweek. Indeed, "as a leading social platform for 21+ consumers, Instagram is a very important channel for us," AB vp of consumer connections, Lucas Herscovici told mag. "Facebook, which owns Instagram, uses targeting data to only show Stella Artois ads to appropriately aged consumers," he noted.

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