Budweiser’s Expanded Responsibility Campaign Encourages Basketball Fans to “Drink Wiser” This Season

 Anheuser-Busch is announcing the expansion of its 360° responsible drinking platform tied to its flagship beer brand, Budweiser. Designed to empower NBA fans to enjoy games responsibly this season, “Drink Wiser” promotes one simple behavior that fans 21 years and older can do: Hydrate Between Buds. 

“Budweiser is all about bringing fans closer to the game they love and is part of the NBA viewing experience,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President of Marketing, Budweiser. “We wanted to shed light on the discipline of the athletes we root for on the court by drawing a parallel for fans – Hydrating Between Buds is the best play you can make.” 

Anheuser-Busch recently renewed its sponsorship with the league, making this Budweiser’s 22^nd season as the official beer of the NBA. Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with the NBA spans across all leagues including the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball. 

“For more than 20 years Anheuser-Busch has effectively connected with our fans throughout the year-round basketball calendar,” said Kerry Tatlock, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing Partnerships, NBA. “We’re excited to continue to evolve our partnership, building on the long-standing responsibility programs we’ve implemented together and also creating new initiatives across the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League, and USA Basketball.”

First launched in 2018, this year’s campaign will lead with a new “Drink Wiser” short film. Starring the duo of Anthony Anderson (Emmy nominated actor and executive producer of ABC’s sitcoms black-ish and mixed-ish, and Freeform’s grown-ish) and Danny Green (two-time NBA champion and guard for the Los Angeles Lakers), the spot encourages sports fans to consume responsibly by showing them that the key to being legendary on and off the court is to “Drink Wiser.”

“I am proud to be a part of the Budweiser team and this year’s ‘Drink Wiser’ campaign,” said Emmy-nominated actor Anthony Anderson. “As a lifelong NBA fan, it’s been really great working with Danny to show fellow sports fans how easy it is to Hydrate Between Buds’.”

The forthcoming content, which has also been produced alongside the National Basketball Players Association, will broadcast on TV during NBA games, online and in NBA arenas around the country. Other elements of the upcoming campaign, include:  

• The Drink Wiser Challenge*, which gives NBA fans who pledge to Hydrate Between Buds a chance to win prizes such as tickets to the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, autographed memorabilia, and Budweiser swag
• “Drink Wiser” message to be featured on all Budweiser’s primary and secondary packaging  

“As a player, it’s important to me that fans enjoy the game no matter where they’re watching,” said two-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green. “It’s great to partner with Budweiser who is doing its part to promote responsible behaviors and ensuring players and fans alike enjoy the game.”

Anheuser-Busch is committed to fostering a culture of smart drinking behaviors. Since the launch of its first responsible drinking campaign more than 35 years ago, the company alongside its partners has invested more than one billion dollars in responsible marketing efforts. Anheuser-Busch is firmly committed to going the extra mile to ensure beer drinkers enjoy its products in a responsible way, and that every experience with one of its beers is a positive one.

For information regarding Anheuser-Busch’s long-time commitment to responsible drinking, visit: PurposeBeyondBrewing.com.

*DRINK WISER 2020 NBA FINALS SWEEPSTAKES

No Purchase Necessary.  Open to US residents 21+. Begins 11/18/19 and ends 1/6/20 (“Sweepstakes Period”). ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS FOR US and DC RESIDENTS (EXCEPT CA and TX RESIDENTS): During the Sweepstakes Period, create a “Budweiser Rewards” account, or log-in to your existing “Budweiser Rewards” account, look for the Sweepstakes mention and follow the online instructions to complete tasks and submit an entry. “Budweiser Rewards” membership is free; visit www.budweiser.com to enroll. ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS FOR CA and TX RESIDENTS: During the Sweepstakes Period, create a “Budweiser Sweepstakes” account, or login to your existing “Budweiser Sweepstakes” account, look for the Sweepstakes mention and follow the online instructions to complete tasks and submit an entry. Visit www.budweiser.com to create a “Budweiser Sweepstakes” account. See Official Rules at www.budweiser.com for entry, prizes and details. Void where prohibited.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home.

For more information, visit www.anheuserbusch.com