A-B Lowers Malt Beverage's Alcohol Content

ST. LOUIS -- Anheuser-Busch is dialing down the alcohol content in large containers of its 2-year-old malt beverage Tilt. The new formula will make its way to stores this summer.

The beverage company is reworking Tilt to contain 8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), down from its current 12 percent for its 24-ounce can, according to the Wall Street Journal. Anheuser-Busch Cos. President David Peacock revealed the change at a recent beverage conference. The alcohol content of the 16-ounce Tilt will be capped going forward.

"We just think it's the right thing to do," Peacock said, adding the company hopes other beverage manufacturers will follow suit.

Anheuser-Busch introduced Tilt in April 2010. It is offered in three varieties: Tilt Red, Tilt Blue and Tilt Green. Tilt Blue and Tilt Green had slightly less alcohol content than Tilt Red, according to the company, with 11 percent and 10 percent ABV, respectively.

The move comes as flavored malt beverages have taken a turn in the spotlight over the past few months. Phusion's Four Loko came under fire late last year when the Food and Drug Administration cracked down on alcoholic energy drinks. Four Loko has since returned to the cooler minus the caffeine.

In addition, attorneys general across the country have called on Pabst Brewing Co. to stop production of its Blast by Colt 45. In a letter to the brewing company, the attorneys general called the malt beverage "binge-in-a-can" that targets youth, as CSNews Online previously reported .