FAQ's

• What is responsible drinking?
• What is moderate drinking?
• Why does InBev promote moderate drinking?
• What is InBev's position on drink driving?
• What is InBev’s position on legal drinking age?
• Does InBev adhere to self-regulation of advertising?

What is responsible drinking?

Drinking beer can be fully compatible with a healthy lifestyle.  Responsible drinking means avoiding drinking to excess, and not drinking in the wrong circumstances.

Drinking - even a low level of alcohol - can affect your judgement and your motor skills, which is why it is not a good idea to drink when you are planning to drive.  Any other activity - especially if it is potentially hazardous - that will demand a certain level of judgement and motor skills should not be mixed with drinking.  For most people, this means that drinking at work can cause problems, but also drinking and sports activity are not a wise combination.

To be on the safe side and protect the health of their baby, pregnant women should abstain.  Alcohol and medication also do not mix.

What is moderate drinking?

Excessive drinking should be avoided, even on single occasions.  We would hope that our consumers choose our beers for their great taste and refreshing qualities, not as a quick means to lose control.  There are limits to how much alcohol on a single occasion is good for you.

Just how much is 'healthy' drinking, depends on the sex and weight of the drinker, as well as other circumstances such as speed of drinking and whether or not you combine the drinking with food.  The medical world advises women not to exceed two drinks per day, men three drinks per day and to allow for at least two days of 'no drinking' per week.

Why does InBev promote moderate drinking?

InBev promotes moderate drinking because we recognize our responsibility to society.  We also know that it is not in our long-term interest for consumers to misuse our beers.  It is in our interest to be trusted by our consumers and to  help ensure their wellbeing.  We would rather that our consumers enjoy our products responsibly on a more frequent basis than misuse it on any occasion.

What is InBev's position on drink driving?

We know that the combination of drinking and driving can be very dangerous as a driver's skills will become impaired.  Our position is that it is safer not to drink and drive.  Around the world, there are different legal drinking limits for drivers, ranging from 0% over 0.5% to 0.8%.  In our experience, it is not the level at which the limit has been set that has determined the success in beating accidents caused by drunken drivers, it is the implementation of the legal measure: the perceived chance of being caught and the consequences of being caught.

What is InBev’s position on legal drinking age?

We support government initiatives that create a legal drinking/purchase age and feel that it is important for public authorities to strive for strong implementation. 

Does InBev adhere to self-regulation of advertising?

As a responsible brewer, we want to ensure that our communications with consumers are executed in a manner which does not encourage, nor condone irresponsible drinking. Our own Commercial Communications Code  provides the rules which help us ensure that our communications are 'responsible', it provides a consistent standard for the whole company.  In some markets the Code goes well beyond local requirements, in others, the Code is supplemented by additional local rules, which are always respected.  Every time a new marketing or advertising concept is created, this has to go through an internal compliance check against the Code.  Control is enforced at country level, but the Country Manager or Commercial Director is accountable to our global Executive Board of Management.