The “Numbers” column in the latest edition of Bloomberg BusinessWeek discusses the impact of recession on the alcohol business.

Sales of alcholic beverages are proving to be recession-proof. Sales of expensive wines,beers and spirits have been flat to down compared to one year earlier. However sales of beer in the cheapest category have been up a solid 7.3%. Sales of imported beers fell by 3.8%. Cheaper brands which usually tend to have the biggest market shares have shown solid growth in the recession.

The world’s five biggest alcohol companies by market cap are listed below:

1. Anheuser-Busch Inbev (BUD)
Belgium
Market cap as of March 29: $81 billion
Top Brands: Budweiser, the Busch and Michelob families,Natural Light,Ice, etc.

2. Companhia de Bebidas das Américas (AMBEV) (ABV)
Brazil
Market cap as of March 29: $57 billion

3. Diageo plc (DEO)
U.K.
Market cap as of March 29: $42 billion
Top Brands: Jamaican lager Red Stripe, Ireland’s Kilkenny red ales and Senator Keg in Africa, etc.

4. Heineken (OTC: HINKY)
The Netherlands
Market cap as of March 29: $25 billion
Top Brands: Heineken and Amstel

5. Pernod-Ricard (OTC: PDRDY)
France
Market cap as of March 29: $22 billion
Top Brands: ABSOLUT VODKA, Jacob’s Creek, Havana Club, Martell, etc.