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It's Taps For Free Beer At Busch Theme Parks

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: January 6, 2009

TAMPA - Nothing in life is free. Nope, not even beer at Busch Gardens or other Busch Entertainment Corp. hospitality centers, including SeaWorld Orlando.

Busch Entertainment told employees Monday morning that free samples of Busch's premier products will no longer be provided to theme park patrons.

And Busch Gardens employees of legal drinking age no longer will get two free cases of beer a month.

Busch employees and theme park aficionados have expected the change since InBev, Europe's largest brewer, bought St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch two months ago for $52 billion.

The new company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, is expected to sell the theme park division's 10 parks and focus on making and selling beer, but the poor economy is hindering those plans.

The Belgian brewer has a reputation for thriftiness.

Busch Entertainment enjoyed a corporate culture with a parent company willing to invest in first-class facilities and widespread attention to employee needs to assure customer satisfaction.

In recent changes, Anheuser-Busch InBev said it would trim 1,400 salaried U.S. beer jobs, but no cuts have been announced at the theme parks, and the new hospitality policy will have no effect on employment.

Annual admission prices to Busch Gardens were raised $2, to $69.95, on Dec. 26, keeping to a standard practice in recent years. Florida residents, however, qualify for year-round admission with that single price.

Visitors of legal age will be able to buy beer at hospitality centers that will be converted into new facilities beginning this month, Busch Entertainment said in an e-mail response to questions about the new policy.

The timing and details of hospitality center conversions will vary from park to park, Busch officials said.

The Busch Gardens hospitality house will close briefly at the end of January and reopen with a new cafe-style menu.

The targeted last day for beer sampling is Jan. 25, although that is subject to change.

The SeaWorld Orlando location will close Feb. 1 for a longer period to be converted into a restaurant.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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