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ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV CLOSING THIRD BEER PLANT IN RUSSIA

The Wall Street Journal reports that AB InBev is shutting another Russian plant, the third in 18 months. No, it’s not because of Comrade Putin’s Crimea adventure, but because of steep declines in consumption as a result of higher taxes and tighter regulations.  Production will be shifted to one of its six remaining breweries.

The Russian government has been fighting alcohol abuse for decades.  According to the UK Guardian, the average male’s life expectancy in Russia is 64 with 25% of men dying before age 55.  U.S. men’s average is 79.8.