Comments on: Raise a Glass!

By: David Johnson

David Johnson — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:30:29 +0000

Who cares? There are so many wonderful breweries producing superb beers in this nation, that only an economic dolt would consider this purchase to be a catastophe. The competition in the field is astounding, the quality excellent, prices low, alternatives numerous, etc. In short, there is absolutely nothing economically troubling about this event.

By: nunya

nunya — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:14:12 +0000

Billy,

The only thing you said that I take issue with is that this merger should be "supported". I think a better perspective is that it should be neither hindered nor helped. I have trouble with using the word "permitted" (in place of supported) because it implies that someone else (i.e. the government) should decide if the transaction will be completed.

However, as an A-B stockholder (about 5,000 shares) I am very much AGAINST the transaction, but I don't have a choice. When I receive my proxy I shall vote against the purchase, but my shares will be forcibly taken from me regardless of my wishes on the matter.

In a sense, I am being forced into the transaction by InBev, simply because others choose to sell their shares. While this is a completely private sale, I am being coerced (at "private" gunpoint) into giving up my property. Yes, I will be compensated, but at a rate someone else has determined, not one I consider to be fair.

So, while I agree that the politicos who want to interfere are absolutely wrong, it's not all roses for the stockholders who do not approve of the sale.

By: Billy

Billy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:35:09 +0000

Aside from the economic gains, I am reminded of what I first read in Bastiat's essay on protectionism and communism. Ultimately, this merger should be supported because the owners of Anheuser-Busch and Inbev want to do this with their properties and by doing so, they do not infringe upon the property rights of others. The politicians who wanted to block this to save "America's beer" are an embarrassment.

By: LowcountryJoe

LowcountryJoe — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:50:21 +0000

>>Yes it might have been mostly PBR in my college years, but the choice was there, and I believe I am better off because of it.<<

What, not Heineken? Who are you, Frank Booth?

By: jared

jared — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:02:20 +0000

(First time commenter)

The absolute marvel of free markets and international trade appeared to me in my college years. It was NOT in my economics classes, but rather in my beer drinking experiences that I learned the abundance of choice created by trade.

Each night I had choices of beer styles from Hoegarden to PBR, Yards to Colt 45, Dos Equis and Yuengling, local to import, craft to mass produced... All were possiblities, and I had a choice of taste, culture, and drunken escapades provided by each.

Yes it might have been mostly PBR in my college years, but the choice was there, and I believe I am better off because of it.

P.S. Do not get me started on liqours, and Pennsylvannia's "state stores".