Anheuser-Busch Inbev (NYSE: BUD), beer giant widely known for the popular Budweiser and Bud Light, has joined many breweries and distilleries across the world in a global effort to produce and donate large quantities of hand sanitizer, a product which has been in short supply and high demand during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The company is working with the American Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations to determine what locations have been most impacted by the lack of hand sanitizing products and would therefore benefit most from the company's shipments.
"We have a long history of supporting our communities and employees - this time is no different," said Anheuser-Busch in a tweet. "That's why we are using our supply and logistics network to begin producing and distributing bottles of hand sanitizer to accommodate the growing needs across the United States."
The hand sanitizer Anheuser-Busch is producing has an 80% alcohol concentration. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that in order to effectively fight the 2019 novel coronavirus, hand sanitizers need to consist of 60% alcohol minimum--specifically, the concentration of alcohol should land between 60-95%.
Normally the production and distribution of alcohol for free would not be legally permissible. However, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has temporarily waived relevant provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code so that distilleries may "immediately commence production of hand sanitizer" without needing authorization first.
Some of the other breweries and distilleries which have joined the production of hand sanitizer to help fight COVID-19 include: Bacardi, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Dogfish Head, Berkshire Mountain Distilleries, Litchfield Distillery, Greenhook Ginsmiths, 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company, New York Distilling Co., Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE: TAP), Pernod Ricard (French liquor company that owns Jameson and Absolut), and Scotland-based BrewDog, Leith Distillery, and Verdant Spirits.
Texas-based Tito's Handmade Vodka said their company alone is committed to producing and donating a minimum of 24 tons of hand sanitizer.
Due to a short supply of plastic bottles compared to the amounts of sanitizer needed, many smaller distilleries have been asking the public to provide their own bottles from home.