Budweiser, Dwyane Wade team up to release Budweiser Zero

Alcohol-free beer designed with athlete in mind

Budweiser, a brand of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, unveiled its first zero alcohol brew: Budweiser Zero. Developed and co-founded in partnership with NBA legend, entrepreneur and advocate Dwyane Wade, this zero-sugar, 50 calorie beverage has the same taste profile as Budweiser, but with zero percent ABV.

The alcohol-free beer category is a rapidly evolving industry with exciting growth opportunities, the company says. Budweiser has more than a century of brewing heritage and a legacy of category-setting innovation that never uses artificial flavors, colors or dyes — making it a perfect brew to provide drinkers with the freedom of choice. Now the beer brand is in the alcohol free game, bringing the category to new consumers nationwide.

“Over the past year, we have seen hundreds of new beverage options come to market, with non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages quickly rising in popularity,” said Monica Rustgi, vice president of marketing for Budweiser, in a statement. “Budweiser has an incredible opportunity to propel this movement into mainstream culture by offering a product that doesn’t compromise on the quality and taste people have come to know and love from Budweiser, a brand they trust.”

Co-founder and longtime Budweiser partner Dwyane Wade helped define Budweiser Zero’s core attributes, including the design of the sleek packaging. Leveraging his ties to the sports world, Wade helped create Budweiser Zero with the athlete in mind: someone who wants the great taste of a Budweiser without the after-effects of alcohol, particularly while training or in season, the company says. In addition to people who live and breathe sports, Budweiser Zero is an elevated choice for those looking to maintain a balanced lifestyle and are looking for a beverage that won’t compromise that, it adds. Wade will also appear in advertising tied to the product in coming months.

“Budweiser has been a great partner of mine over the past two years and this was a natural next step,” said Dwyane Wade, founding partner of Budweiser Zero, entrepreneur, advocate. “I’m really excited to join Budweiser in bringing their first alcohol free beer to life. With sports making a return, this is timely as Bud Zero is a game changer by letting athletes enjoy the taste of a refreshing beer without impacting their mental and physical game.”

With roots in Budweiser’s ongoing responsible drinking platform, Drink Wiser, Budweiser Zero is committed to foster a culture of disciplined drinking behavior. Budweiser Zero is here for every moment that beer can be enjoyed responsibly and creating more options for those who prefer reduced alcoholic beverages.

Budweiser Zero is available in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans and 16-ounce single cans, with the addition of six-pack 12-ounce bottles coming in December. Budweiser Zero is an alcohol free brew strictly for adults 21 years of age or older.

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The Non-Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at Beverage Marketing Corporation detail how established categories ― like carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, fruit beverages ― and emerging beverage segments ― such as plant milks, ready-to-drink coffees and teas ― are navigating these shifts.

This important industry event is a learning and information sharing experience for warehousing, distribution and fleet management professionals who will have the opportunity to continue to share ideas and network with their industry peers in a safe and productive format as we continue to navigate these challenging times.