United Kingdom: There are no plans for a caffeine-laced beer currently storming the US to be introduced into United Kingdom yet. Reports in the national press recently suggested that Be (pronounced “B to the E”), brewed by Anheuser-Busch, was set to debut on this side of the pond. But a spokeswoman for Anheuser-Busch told The Publican that the company had no intention of introducing the brand in the UK at the moment.

However, recent history suggests that Anheuser-Busch has a habit of testing out products in its home market before rolling them out worldwide. For example, Michelob Ultra, the low-calorie five per cent lager, was launched in the US 18 months before it came to the UK.

Every can of 4.5 per cent Be contains 54mg of caffeine as well as ginseng, guarana and fruit flavouring. The product has raised fears among health professionals.

Tom Sanders, a professor of nutrition at King’s College, London, said: “What concerns me is that it will encourage drinkers to believe that the effects of alcohol will be lessened by the caffeine. That is very dangerous.” There are also concerns that the drinks could dehydrate consumers – given that both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics.

12 February, 2005