Drink-a-Pint

Before I saw this announcement from Anheuser-Busch, I thought Budweiser was pretty much on par with McDonald’s with billions and billions served across the planet. Apparently, the Vietnamese have been thirsty this whole time as Budweiser will be available throughout Vietnam beginning this month.

Budweiser initially will be available at upscale bars, restaurants and supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City as well as select chain outlets across the nation.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a press release without a quote from someone in upper management who manages to turn the concept of providing a quality product to valued customers into “we’re doing this because we think we can make a lot of money doing it” in just a few sentences. (Of course, we all know that they’re bringing Bud to Vietnam because of a profit motive, but they don’t have to remind us!)

“Vietnam is an exciting beer market and an important one for Anheuser-Busch to begin establishing and building the Budweiser brand,” said Tom Santel, chief executive officer and president, Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. “The country’s beer industry experienced double-digit volume growth for the past three years and already has a well-developed premium segment filled with consumers who will appreciate Budweiser’s clean, crisp and refreshing taste.”

Ahhh, yes… nothing like being part of a “segment filled with consumers.” Welcome to capitalism, Vietnam!

Corporate doublespeak aside, Budweiser will be available in 355-ml non-returnable bottles and 355-ml cans. The beer will be brewed and packaged at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Los Angeles.