New beer brand sold in Myanmar is produced by military-owned entity

Despite being advertised as a new beverage brand, ‘Keen’ beer may in fact be made by Myanmar Brewery Limited (MBL), a target of boycotts by opponents of the military regime. While it was said to be produced and distributed by Super Six International (SSI), the print on the cans says it is produced in a factory operated by MBL, a company that is best known for making the widely available Myanmar Beer and is partly owned by the military-controlled conglomerate Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL). The print reads, “Produced by Myanmar Brewery Limited MBL No. 45, Road 3, Pyinmapyin Industrial Zone, Mingaladon Township, Yangon, and distributed by SSI, Pyitharyar Road, Ward 16, Yankin Township.” Records kept by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA)—Myanmar’s business registrar—show that SSI was established as a beverage production and distribution company in October 2022. However, as the military regime restricts access to information on registered businesses’ ownership and management, Myanmar Now was not able to verify SSI’s address, the identity of its directors, or other essential information about the company. Myanmar Now contacted MBL about the new beer brand. A woman employed by the company said Keen Beer should not be considered a MBL product unless the company makes a public announcement to that effect. Keen beer has been available for sale in bars and liquor stores in Myanmar since early April of this year, before the beginning of the mid-April Thingyan holidays. A “product launch” celebration was held on April 9 at Gravity Bar, located at the StarCity apartment complex in Yangon’s Thanlyin Township, with popular singer Aung La as a featured performer. Keen beer currently sells for 2,500 kyat (US $1.20) per can, as compared with prices ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 kyat (US $0.72 to $0.95) for Chang, Yoma, and Myanmar Beer. Blood Money, an advocacy group that organises boycotts intended to cut off revenue flows to the military regime, is investigating the product’s links to the junta and will add it to the boycott list if the connection is confirmed, a spokesperson said. Anti-junta forces destroying Myanmar Beer after finding it on a freight truck in Gangaw District in October 2023 (YRA Htilin) He added that, despite widespread popular support for boycotts against products made by military-controlled entities, the military pressures shop owners in areas under their control to carry military-made brands. However, shops in areas controlled by anti-junta resistance groups and ethnic armed organisations avoid selling those products. Other military-owned alcoholic beverage brands in Myanmar include Andaman Gold, Black Shield, and Army Rum. MBL was established in 1995. The Japanese-based beverage giant Kirin Holdings owned a majority stake in MBL before 2022, when it announced plans to transfer its shares and end its partnership with MEHL, which controlled the remaining shares. Sales of Myanmar Beer had plummeted by 46 percent following the military coup the previous year, according to Kirin Holdings’ May 2021 earnings report.

New beer brand sold in Myanmar is produced by military-owned entity

Contrary to publicity presenting ‘Keen’ beer as a new brand, text on the cans says it was produced at factories owned by Myanmar Brewery Limited, the boycotted entity that produces Myanmar Beer

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