Bar Stands by Bud Light, Tells Angry Customers to Leave

As Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch have been boycotted and scrutinized by segments of the American public, some establishments—like The Fairfax Bar & Grill in Bloomington, Indiana—are making customers leave for voicing "intolerant" opinions on the subject.

The continued discussion surrounding the beer and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, in the wake of its partnership with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, continues to divide certain individuals and demographics. It also caused two company marketing executives to take leaves of absence.

New sales figures released by NielsenIQ and Bump Williams Consulting, originally cited by trade newsletter Beer Marketer's Insights, indicate an average sales revenue drop of 17 percent—including a decline of 21 percent in the week ending April 15, which exceeded the week prior by 10 percent.

"We are tired of all of the hate," The Fairfax Bar & Grill wrote in an April 11 Facebook post. "We are very open to debate and discussion and it's truly a shame that we can't have open conversations about this important political and cultural topic.

"Bars, in our opinion, exist as public spaces where ideas should be exchanged. Unfortunately, due to all of the bigotry and hatred that has surfaced around the Bud Light controversy, any patron wanting to voice their concerns about the issue will be immediately asked to pay their bill and leave our establishment."

Everyone is welcome in the bar no matter how they identity, the post added, and that ownership doesn't care about special cans or partnerships with certain individuals.

"We will not tolerate intolerance," it said.

Bar owner McKinley Minniefield told Newsweek via phone that his establishment is about 10 minutes outside Bloomington, in a "blue dot inside of a very red state." He describes it as a classic dive.

"I won't tolerate hate speech, and I think that's where I draw the line as a human, as a business owner," he said. "I'm 100 percent open to debate and to offering a place where people can and exchange ideas. I think it's really important that we keep these public places—bars, these places where people can come and have a beer and sit next to somebody, share a beer with somebody they maybe don't agree with or see eye to eye with."

He said patrons routinely discuss politics or religion, but customers have lately been coming into his bar and "being really aggressive" toward others drinking Bud Light.

They have all been verbal, nonviolent altercations involving "hot-headed, macho dudes" who were picking fights and calling names across the bar, he said. Bartenders eventually became uncomfortable.

It led to the no-hate-speech policy that he publicized on social media, which Minniefield said has impacted business in certain ways—but for how long and how much remains a mystery.

"I've definitely lost customers, there's no doubt about it," he said. "There are quite a few regulars who I know by name, almost daily customers, who haven't been in since this controversy has dawned on my doors."

One of those, he said, is a local business owner he befriended when he first purchased the establishment. After numerous social outings with the individual, the friend hasn't stopped into The Fairfax Bar & Grill in a while.

"But I feel like every person we lost, we've so far gained a couple new people filling those seats every day," Minniefield said. "Time will tell whether or not they'll stick around and become regulars, too. We've seen an increase of people who are open-minded and show support because we took a stand."

Some establishments, such as those owned by Joe Penovich, are doing the opposite.

Penovich, who owns Florida-based Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar locations in Port Canaveral, Melbourne and Orlando, wrote in a Facebook post last week that his business decided to remove Bud Light "because of their support of something that is in direct opposition to our Biblical faith."

In an interview with Fox Business, Penovich reiterated the "Biblical faith" standpoint and said he's experienced "probably the most difficult two weeks we've ever experienced in our life."

Anheuser-Busch "held a social knife over all of our heads here and they dropped it real irresponsibly," he added.

Following days of silence on the topic, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—a potential GOP presidential candidate—called Bud Light boycotts "righteous" and claimed he would never drink it again.

Thomas Gift, founding director of University College London's Centre on U.S. Politics, previously told Newsweek that silence on Bud Light's behalf is likely the best marketing strategy.

"The brand's best hope now is to lie low and hope the controversy blows over," Gift said. "And it will. After all, two qualities define Americans: one, they have a short attention span; and two, they love cheap beer."

Update 04/25/23, 7:30 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from McKinley Minniefield.