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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JMcLDLLvPSZzCk5jVi6c7nHCnbDq3Ybo2uAE7daCLmRs+e6P25H+hK90uCeVUV0f
 Nxa7/6S0lX5V3+fg17GEoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179826-03-000004.txt : 20030609
<SEC-HEADER>0001179826-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030609
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030609122431
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179826-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030609

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310569
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MALT BEVERAGES [2082]
		IRS NUMBER:				431162835
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSCH PL
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147656565

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSCH PL
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURROWS STEPHEN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179826

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07823
		FILM NUMBER:		03736992

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE BUSCH PLACE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147656565

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE BUSCH PLACE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63118-1852
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-06</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310569</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANHEUSER BUSCH COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BUD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179826</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURROWS STEPHEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP - International Operations</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24953.4657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="
F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26432</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>12.0185</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>51385.4657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershi
pNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>52.76</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>49885.4657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par va
lue)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>22300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>52.7</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27585.4657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock ($1 par value)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-06</value></transactionDate><transaction
Coding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2632</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>52.72</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24953.4657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option - Right to Buy (NQ)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.0185</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-06</value></transactionDate><tr
ansactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26432</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-12-15</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-12-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26432</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26432</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></na
tureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Not applicable.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes shares held through the company's automatic dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">In connection with the Rights Agreement adopted by the Company, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights were distributed to shareholders and are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock of the Company listed on this Form.  One-quarter of a Preferred Stock Purchase Right is attached to each share of common stock.  If and when the Rights become exercisable, the holder of each Right initially would be entitled to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series Junior B Participating Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $195 (both the number of fractional shares and the purchase price are subject to adjustment).</footnote><footnote id="F4">Mr. Burrows also holds 30,475 shares of Common Stock (subject to footnote 1 above) indirectly under the Anheuser-Busch 401(K) Plan based 
on the latest plan statement as of April 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Options became exercisable over three years beginning one year following the date of grant (12/15/1993).  The date provided represents the first year of vesting.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Mr. Burrows also holds 4,077 Phantom Stock Units under the Anheuser-Busch 401(K) Restoration Plan based on the latest plan statement as of April 1, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Laura H. Reeves, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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