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A-B Pulls Plug On Spykes

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Friday, May 18, 2007 12 PM

Anheuser-Busch CEO August A. Busch IV announced yesterday that the company would cease production of Spykes, its line of flavored malt beverages in small, colorful bottles and flavors such as "hot melons" and "hot chocolate." Critics such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest had charged that the line was a ploy to market malt liquor to underage drinkers.

A-B says it was trying to woo adults age 21 to 29, since many have turned away from domestic beers to try wine or distilled spirits, such as vodka and rum in recent years. Spykes has 12% alcohol by volume and is intended to be downed as a shot or mixed with beer or vodka.

Michael J. Owens, vice president of marketing at A-B's domestic beer subsidiary, says the brand is under-performing and is being pulled "due to its limited volume potential and unfounded criticism."

Read the whole story at St. Louis Post-Dispatch »

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