Bud Light Ritas have become a popular alcoholic beverage option over the past several years. However, there has been some speculation recently over whether Anheuser-Busch has discontinued or plans to discontinue the Bud Light Rita product line. In this article, we’ll examine the evidence to determine if Bud Light Ritas are being discontinued or not.
What are Bud Light Ritas?
Bud Light Ritas are flavored malt beverages made by Anheuser-Busch. They have a similar base to Bud Light beer, but also contain spirits and natural flavors to give them a unique taste. The Bud Light Rita line includes several flavor varieties such as Strawberry, Lime, Grape, Watermelon, Lemonade, and Mang-O-Rita.
The cans have 8% alcohol by volume, higher than a typical beer. Bud Light Ritas are marketed as “margaritas brewed with beer” and are designed to capitalize on the popularity of Margaritas and fruit-flavored cocktails.
Evidence Bud Light Ritas are being discontinued
There are a few reasons why some people believe Bud Light Ritas are being discontinued:
Limited availability recently
Over the past year or so, many consumers have reported that Bud Light Ritas flavors seem to be out of stock more frequently at grocery stores, liquor stores, and other retailers. Ongoing supply chain issues could be contributing to this. However, it has led to speculation that Anheuser-Busch is slowing or halting production of the Bud Light Ritas.
Flavors disappearing from store shelves
Not only have the Bud Light Ritas been out of stock more often, but some of the flavors seem to have disappeared altogether from store shelves. For example, shoppers have noticed the Strawberry, Grape, and Mang-O-Rita varieties becoming impossible to find in stores over the last several months.
No recent marketing campaigns or hype
Unlike when the Bud Light Ritas were first launched, there does not seem to be much new marketing or advertising hype around them lately. Anheuser-Busch isn’t promoting the Bud Light Ritas or introducing new flavors like they did in the past. This lack of marketing buzz has led some to believe the product line is being quietly phased out.
Evidence Bud Light Ritas are NOT being discontinued
However, there are also several reasons to believe Bud Light Ritas are not discontinued yet and Anheuser-Busch still plans to produce and sell them:
Still listed on Anheuser-Busch’s website
Bud Light Ritas are still included on Anheuser-Busch’s official website. All the flavors are listed on the “Our Brands” page along with other Anheuser-Busch products. It seems unlikely they would still have a webpage for Bud Light Ritas if they were discontinued.
Not confirmed by Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch has not made any official announcement that it is ceasing production of Bud Light Ritas. Large companies usually issue press releases alerting the public when they discontinue a major product line like this one. The lack of confirmation from Anheuser-Busch suggests the rumors of discontinuation are premature.
Still being distributed to some stores
While they may not be as widely available as before, Bud Light Ritas are still being distributed to grocery and liquor stores in many markets. Retailers say they are still receiving shipments of certain flavors, indicating Anheuser-Busch is still manufacturing and shipping the products to replenish inventory.
Seasonal production cycle
Bud Light Rita production may be subject to seasonal fluctuations based on demand. It’s possible fewer varieties were produced over the winter months when malt beverage sales tend to decline. Production and distribution of more flavors may resume in the spring and summer months when sales increase again.
Ongoing supply chain challenges
Like many food and beverage companies, Anheuser-Busch has likely faced supply chain challenges due to labor shortages, materials costs, and COVID-19 disruptions. Lower inventories for Bud Light Ritas could simply reflect these widespread logistics issues rather than a discontinuation.
Anheuser-Busch statements on Bud Light Ritas status
So far Anheuser-Busch has not provided any official statements confirming or denying the rumors about Bud Light Ritas being discontinued. However, some distributors and store owners say they have received assurances from AB representatives that the product line remains active:
| Statement | Source |
| “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the temporary shortage of certain Bud Light Rita flavors in your area. This was due to unexpected production delays. We still consider Bud Light Rita an active product line and have plans to resume distribution of all flavors.” | Anheuser-Busch distributor in Iowa |
| “Anheuser-Busch told us Bud Light Ritas are just on tightened allocation right now due to can shortages, but will continue being made. We’re expecting our next shipment in a few weeks.” | Liquor store manager in Ohio |
These comments indicate the shortages are likely temporary and related to operational issues like production capacity and canning supplies. They suggest Anheuser-Busch is working to make more Bud Light Ritas available again versus phasing out the line altogether.
Potential reasons for scaled back production
If Anheuser-Busch has intentionally reduced production volumes for Bud Light Ritas, there are a few possible reasons why they may have made that business decision:
Falling sales and consumer demand
Bud Light Rita sales may have declined since their peak popularity in the late 2010s when the concept was more novel. As competition has increased in the fruit flavored malt beverage category, demand may have softened for Bud Light Ritas.
Cannibalization of beer sales
Some analysts speculate the success of Bud Light Ritas has partially come at the expense of Bud Light beer sales. Anheuser-Busch may be trying to steer demand back to Bud Light by making the Ritas a little less available.
Production costs
With inflation impacting raw materials, labor, transportation, and packaging costs, producing Bud Light Ritas may have become much less profitable versus focusing on the core Bud Light beer brands.
Brand portfolio optimization
Part of Anheuser-Busch’s overall brand strategy may be to trim smaller product lines like Bud Light Ritas and shift resources to bigger priorities like Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, and seltzers.
The future of Bud Light Ritas
Looking ahead, the future direction of Bud Light Ritas seems unclear. Anheuser-Busch has several options on the table:
- Discontinue Bud Light Ritas – This seems unlikely in the short term given distributor comments, but could happen eventually if sales decline further.
- Scale back production – Limit distribution to only top-selling flavors and reduce production volumes to cut costs.
- Relaunch with new marketing – Revive interest and sales with new product innovations, special flavor releases, and more advertising.
- Renew focus and increase availability – Ramp up production again and make all flavors more widely available to retailers nationwide.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence suggests that while Bud Light Ritas may be going through a period of reduced production and more limited availability, Anheuser-Busch has likely not discontinued the product line altogether yet. The shortages appear tied to operational challenges around production and distribution rather than an intentional winding down of the brand. However, Anheuser-Busch does seem to be giving Bud Light Ritas less priority recently compared to the heyday of their launch and popularity boom a few years ago. It remains to be seen whether they will ramp up availability again or continue to de-emphasize the Bud Light Rita product line over time.