Anheuser-Busch InBev shills on BA?

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by Homers_Beer_Odyssey, Jul 30, 2015.

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  1. Homers_Beer_Odyssey

    Homers_Beer_Odyssey Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2014 New York

    I am very much in favor of an absolutely free and unfettered internet. That being said, has anyone wondered if there are AB employees hired to shill on this board? It just seems odd to read so many, "Why not have a Bud Light today?" posts. After all, social media is a big part of corporate advertising these days.
     
    #1 Homers_Beer_Odyssey, Jul 30, 2015
  2. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I haven't, but there were accusations just recently that some of the reviews for Saranac Legacy were done by a F X Matt employee(s)/shill(s). Haven't read the offending reviews myself so have no opinion.

    I doubt AB worries too much about the reviews of Goose Island, etc., or about steering opinion on BA message boards.
     
    #2 cavedave, Jul 30, 2015
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  3. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    By far the largest segment of the craft beer market is people who mostly drink and enjoy beers like Bud Light. Many BAs drink and enjoy mass market beers, including Bud Light. What would be surprising is if there were no BAs ever talking about having a Bud Light or other mass market beer today. So there's no need to hire shills.

    So, no, I've never wondered that, and also figure that even if there were shills, it would be a big waste of the ABInBev advertising dollar since there's no way a hard core BA who never drinks a Bud Light in the first place is gonna be motivated by a shill to change their habits.
     
    #3 drtth, Jul 30, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2015
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  4. TBonez477

    TBonez477 Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2015 Vermont
    Trader

    Basically agree across the board with you all. I have many Bud Light loyalists in my friend group (yeah, I said it) and so I've seen in that culture plenty of people who would be willing to join BA simply to share their pride in AB. We've seen the spite AB has for craft as recently as the Super Bowl commercials (don't get me started) and that attitude is reflected in many of their radical followers. Take a look at the WBAYDN thread; every day there is someone posting drinking an American adjunct, even if it isn't an AB product. Folks seem to genuinely support the products/business of AB, more power to them I say.
     
    #4 TBonez477, Jul 30, 2015
  5. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    1. This is BeerAdvocate. We discuss all beers and welcome all beer drinkers.
    2. As per our Industry Posting Rules: "Rating and reviewing your own place or beers, or paying others to do so, is not allowed and illegal under FTC guidelines." This could be extended to distributors, bloggers, etc.
    3. There's a Report link on every user profile. Use it and provide your proof, but you really better have some proof vs. reporting someone simply because they like a beer or company that you don't.
     
    #5 Todd, Jul 30, 2015
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