InBev: No More Free Beer at Parks

Busch Entertainment Corp., the entertainment subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, told employees Monday morning that free beer will no longer be given to theme park patrons, according to media reports.

Visitors of legal age will be able to buy beer, the Tampa Tribune reported.

A request for comment was not immediately returned from Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis about whether similar actions will be taken at Grant's Farm and during brewery tours.

The beer-serving hospitality areas at Busch Entertainment facilities are being reworked, the report also said. Busch Gardens' hospitality house is set to close at the end of January and reopen with a new menu, and SeaWorld Orlando's hospitality location is to close Feb. 1 for conversion to a restaurant.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is expected to sell the theme park division as it works to pay off its debt from the $52 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch.

Orlando, Fla.-based Busch Entertainment Corp. operates 10 theme parks, including SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Last month, the brewer announced it would cut 1,400 salaried workers in its beer-related divisions, leave 250 U.S. positions vacant and eliminate an additional 415 contractor positions. None of those affected jobs were in the theme parks.

Belgium-based InBev bought St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. in a $52 billion deal that closed in November. Anheuser-Busch is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is now the world's largest brewer.

by BizJournals.com

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