Left Launches Its Own Bud Light Boycott

Anheuser-Busch is facing renewed pain as the very demographic it sought to appease with its Dylan Mulvaney partnership is now participating in its own mass boycott of the brand. 

A number of popular LGBT bars in the Chicago area have simultaneously announced plans to boycott Anheuser-Busch brands due to its reversal on its controversial Dylan Mulvaney partnership, which led to mass boycotts from conservatives.

Sidetrack Bar, a popular bar in the notorious Boystown neighborhood, issued a lengthy statement to its Instagram.

“Sidetrack continues to be encouraged by the increase in support from brands to the LGBTQ+ community over the last four decades as the country’s support for the LGBTQ+ community has increased,” it began.

“However, we must also hold brands accountable if they take active steps against the LGBTQ+ equality, visibility and safety. Bud Light’s recent decision to drop the Dylan Mulvaney campaign, to put on “leave” those who created it, as well as the statement by its CEO, wrongfully validates the position that it is acceptable to acquiesce to the demands of those who do not support the trans community, and wish to erase LGBTQ+ visibility.”

The bar said it would immediately stop serving Bud, Bud Light and Goose Island 312 beers.

2Bears Tavern Group, which owns four Chicago bars, said all of its businesses “are discontinuing Anheuser-Busch InBev products as a result of the brewer’s anti-transgender actions and statements.”

As a result of the conservative boycotts, Bud Light sales dropped 17% according to data analyzed by Nielsen. Its wholesale distributors have also seen in-store sales drop by 21% compared to the previous year.

Anheuser-Busch’s global CEO Michel Doukeris said the company has tripled its summer advertising budget for the US as it attempts to refurbish its reputation.

The company also put Vice President of Marketing for Bud Light Alissa Heinerscheid and Vice President for Marketing of Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands Daniel Blake on leave for an unspecified amount of time.