Budweiser Brands Won’t Be Welcome at Oktoberfest For The 1st Time in 75 Years.
Every year, Oktoberfest, the world’s largest folk festival, attracts millions of visitors. This six-day event, held in the town of Okto on the Bavarian side of the Swiss Alps, showcases a wide variety of international fair food and virtually every type of beer brewed globally.
However, this year’s festivities will be missing a notable brand: Budweiser. According to the festival organizer, Oktoberfest is a time for enjoyment, camaraderie, and celebration, not a platform for political disputes.
“We aim to prevent this from becoming a divisive issue similar to the American-style debates over gender and political affiliations that lead to misguided boycotts and unfortunate incidents. Our objective is to preserve the welcoming atmosphere that our Oktans provide,” the organizer explained.
The organizer clarified that only brands deemed controversial were asked not to participate, specifically citing Budweiser and Bud Light. He pointed out that these brands, despite their names, do not truly represent Bavarian brewing traditions.
In the 2022 Oktoberfest menu, Budweiser and Bud Light were listed as “complementary” beverages available at self-pour stations throughout the event. The menu humorously noted that due to their low alcohol content and lack of flavor, Anheuser Busch’s flagship products were deemed suitable for individuals over 16, even though the legal drinking age in Bavaria is 16 for beer.
