A-B Seeking to Restrict IRCs in Illinois

Part of broader effort to clamp down on couponing.

Anheuser-Busch is seeking to restrict instant redeemable coupons in Illinois, Brewblog has learned.

A-B -- which has used IRCs in Illinois -- is complaining that the use of such coupons is open to abuse and needs to be tightly restricted. It's believed A-B wants to enact regulatory changes to clamp down on the frequency of IRCs.

A-B's effort to restrict IRCs in Illinois fits in with a broader push to restrict couponing activity elsewhere in the country. Miller Brewing Co., meanwhile, has consistently opposed efforts to restrict competition.

For instance, A-B and its Florida wholesalers are urging the state regulator to more strictly define what constitutes a coupon program. A-B -- which unsuccessfully sought to amend couponing law in the legislature -- says the current system is too confusing.

But representatives of more than a dozen organizations and businesses including Miller, Coors Brewing, the Wine Institute and Diageo in June sent a letter to the Florida regulator opposing such a move. They argued the rules -- on the books for at least 10 years -- work well and are clearly understood.