Goodbye Bud Light! The best-selling beer in the United States is now Mexican

New York () — America’s best-selling beer isn’t American anymore: Bud Light lost its decades-old title to a Mexican competitor.

Modelo Especial, the Mexican lager brewed near Mexico City by Constellation Brands, emerged as the best-selling beer in May, unseating Bud Light for the top spot it had held in more than 20 years. This decline further highlighted the problems facing the Anheuser-Busch brand following an Instagram post showing Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender social media influencer, with a personalized Bud Light can.

During the four weeks ending June 3, Modelo accounted for 8.4% of US retail beer sales, while Bud Light fell to second place with 7.3%, according to NIQ data provided. to the consulting firm Bump Williams. Dollar sales were equally dismal for Bud Light during that period, falling 24.4%, while Modelo’s rose 12.2%.

And the trend doesn’t seem to be changing in favor of Bud, according to the consultancy.

“Modelo Especial seems to be increasing its sales growth every week as we head into the summer,” Williams told . And he added that Modelo Oro, his new low-carb beer, is off to a strong start after its debut in May, further bolstering the brand’s sales.

Modelo Especial outsold Bud Light in May. (Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In recent years, consumers have shifted their alcoholic beverage preferences to Mexican beers and spirits, such as tequila and mezcal. Williams noted that several factors contributed to Modelo becoming the best-selling beer (at least in May), including strong support from retailers, heavy advertising, eye-catching packaging, and a Cinco de Mayo “springboard effect.” facing the boreal summer.

Greg Gallagher, vice president of brand marketing for New York-based Constellation, told that Modelo has been “enjoying an incredible run of success” over the past several years. And he added that he wants to replicate the dominance he has among Hispanic drinkers in other demographics. “Our growth is in keeping that core but also bringing in non-Hispanic customers, and we’re having incredible success.”

If there’s a silver lining for Anheuser-Busch (whose parent company is in Belgium), it’s that American-made Bud Light remains the best-selling beer so far this year. Sales of other beers in its family, including Michelob Ultra, Natural Light and Busch Light, also fell in the same period compared to previous weeks.

In recent weeks, Bud Light sales have been declining at around 25% weekly, likely due to the mountain of negative headlines from the right-wing media following its association with Mulvaney, and the brand’s tepid response to the controversy that angered defenders of the LGBTQ + community. A single can featuring her face was provided for a social media post, but some leading conservative figures attacked the brand and transphobic comments spilled across social media.