AB InBev Foundation, local brewers, experts and governments launch programs to reduce harmful drinking in Nigeria and Zambia

May 26, 2022 | Business

WEBWIRE –



In the last decade, data from the World Health Organization shows that the harmful consumption of alcohol has decreased around the world. But more must be done. As the world’s leading brewer, AB InBev is accelerating continued progress to disrupt harmful drinking worldwide through Smart Drinking initiatives.


One of our priorities is to provide Smart Drinking resources and evidence-based programs to consumers and communities. In dozens of countries, AB InBev, in collaboration with the AB InBev Foundation, has initiated cross-sector partnerships with local experts and governments in supporting more than 70 interventions aimed at reducing the harmful use of alcohol, including Responsible Beverage Service (RBS), and Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) programs.


Responsible Beverage Service expands to Nigeria


RBS provides owners, management and service staff at bars, restaurants, event venues and liquor stores with training to help prevent sales to minors and reduce underage drinking, binge drinking and drunk driving. It also highlights alcohol-related laws and includes compliance checks of liquor trading establishments.


This April, International Breweries Plc, AB InBev’s local brewer in Nigeria, launched the nation’s first RBS program, together with key stakeholders in health and safety, transport and hospitality sectors. Organizers aim to train 10,000 people on issues of alcohol abuse, including community champions and health workers who will focus on improving alcohol health literacy among pregnant women.


“Smart Drinking has become part of our DNA and we continue to strive to bring that culture to our communities,” said Hugo Rocha, Managing Director, International Breweries. “Our commitment extends far beyond saying ‘drink responsibly’: it spans our global Smart Drinking goals, the work of the AB InBev Foundation, the commitments of our brands, and the behaviors that we ask our consumers to practice every time they pick up a beer.”


Since 2018, International Breweries Plc and its partners have reached more than 15 million people with educational outreach and initiatives on responsible alcohol consumption.


Screening and Brief Intervention program launches in Zambia


SBI is a preventive program that measures an individual’s drinking pattern during outpatient or wellness visits and motivates those identified as being at risk of harmful consumption of alcohol to change their behavior.


Last month, Zambian Breweries, along with Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), the AB InBev Foundation and the Zambian government, jointly launched a new SBI program in the capital city of Lusaka.


“We recognize that harmful alcohol use creates a barrier for fostering health and wellness within communities,” said Tom Achoki, Senior Director of Strategy and Impact – AB InBev Foundation. “That’s why we are committed to building and maintaining effective partnerships that will allow us to scale up evidence-based interventions and work toward further addressing the problem.”


The program will be piloted in selected Lusaka healthcare facilities where workers will be trained to screen for low, medium and high-risk alcohol dependency among outpatients, conduct brief interventions and refer high-risk individuals to counselling and rehabilitation treatment services.


“Alcohol represents a key public health and developmental challenge for our country,” said Karen Sichinga, CHAZ Executive Director. “It is therefore a great source of inspiration to join hands with Zambian Breweries and AB InBev Foundation in tackling alcohol abuse among young people. We challenge other private sector players to take a leaf from Zambian Breweries and the AB InBev Foundation”


For more on Responsible Beverage Service programs and Screening and Brief Intervention, see the AB InBev 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report .

AB InBev Increases its Humanitarian Relief for Ukraine and Is Forfeiting All Financial Benefits from Stake in Russian Non-Controlled Joint Venture

Mar 15, 2022 | Business

WEBWIRE –



We are providing critical assistance to our 1,800 employees in Ukraine and their families, including providing housing and financial support. In addition to donating to the Red Cross, we are working in partnership with them, other CPGs and local NGOs to provide food, blankets, medical supplies and 2 million cans of emergency drinking water to Ukraine and surrounding refugee relief areas.


We have a joint venture in Ukraine and Russia with Turkish brewer Anadolu Efes. Yet, we do not have a controlling stake at the joint venture and do not consolidate it in our accounts. We have requested the controlling shareholder to suspend the license for the production and sale of Bud in Russia. Furthermore, we are forfeiting all financial benefit from the joint venture operations.


The joint venture employees in Ukraine and Russia will continue to be supported and paid. We are focused on supporting our employees, their families and the humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine while wishing for peace.


Forward-Looking Statements


This release contains “forward-looking statements”. These statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events and developments of the management of AB InBev and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this release include, statements other than historical facts and include statements typically containing words such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “believe”, “intends”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “targets”, “estimates”, “likely”, “foresees” and words of similar import. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statement relating to the future of our joint venture interests. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the current views of the management of AB InBev, are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties about AB InBev and are dependent on many factors, some of which are outside of AB InBev’s control. There are important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different, including as a result of the developing situation in Ukraine and Russia. The forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere, including AB InBev’s most recent Form 20-F and other reports furnished on Form 6-K, and any other documents that AB InBev has made public. Any forward-looking statements made in this communication are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, AB InBev undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.