U.S. Beer Sales Rank #1 on 4th of July

Industry Continues to Generate Billions in Economic Activity Despite Weak
Economy

WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- July 4th continues to be the
biggest beer-selling holiday of the year, with sales at supermarkets across
the country in 2008 topping 24 million cases during the holiday period,
according to The Nielsen Company. These sales, when combined with the
activities of distributors, retailers, and related industries nationwide, help
support nearly 1.9 million jobs and generate $190 billion to the U.S. economy
annually.

"Independence Day is the perfect time to recognize the contributions our
industry makes to the national economy," said Jeff Becker, President of the
Beer Institute. "The beer category also offers consumers a broad array of
quality products at affordable price points."

According to an economic impact study commissioned jointly by the Beer
Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), the beer
industry also pays over $41 billion in business, personal and consumption
taxes, including $5.4 billion in excise taxes.

Nick Lake, Vice President and Group Director of The Nielsen Company, remarked
on the beer industry's strong sales throughout the year. "In these difficult
economic times, beer sales have remained relatively steady. July 4th, and the
summer months in general, have traditionally been the highest selling period
for beer around the country."

Beer's retail partners are important contributors to the economy. According to
Nielsen, there are over 521,000 beer-selling retail establishments in the
United States. The industry's economic ripple effect benefits many other
industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction and
transportation whose livelihood depends on beer.

The beer industry also invests significant funds in alcohol abuse prevention
programs throughout the year and especially around important holidays like
Independence Day. In the past 25 years, brewers and beer importers have
invested more than three quarters of a billion dollars on proven, targeted
measures that help prevent alcohol abuse.

The complete Beer Serves America Economic Impact study, including
state-by-state and congressional district breakdowns of economic
contributions, is available at the Beer Serves America Web site,
http://www.beerservesamerica.org/.

The Beer Institute, established in 1986, is the national trade association for
the brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as
importers and industry suppliers. The Institute is committed to the
development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and
personal responsibility: www.beerinstitute.org.

SOURCE The Beer Institute

Marc Destito, +1-202-777-3528, mdestito@clsdc.com, for The Beer Institute