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EXHIBIT 5.1
November 16, 2000
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
One Busch Place
St. Louis, Missouri 63118
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
Relating to 10,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, Par Value $1.00 Per Share, To Be
Issued Pursuant to Anheuser-Busch Deferred
Income Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
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Gentlemen:
I am an Associate General Counsel of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (the
"Company") and have represented the Company in connection with the
Anheuser-Busch Deferred Income Stock Purchase and Savings Plan (the "Plan").
I have examined such documents, records and matters of law as I have deemed
necessary for purposes of this opinion letter, and based thereupon I am of
the opinion that:
(1) The shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant
to the Plan will be, when issued in accordance with
the Plan, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(2) The participations in the Plan to be extended to
participants in the Plan will be, when extended in
accordance with the Plan, validly issued.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to
the registration statement on Form S-8 filed by the Company to effect
registration of the common stock under the Securities Act of 1933 and to the
reference to me under the caption "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel"
therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ THOMAS LARSON
Thomas Larson
Associate General Counsel
