For what it's worth, mass-market European beer usually has the same or less alcohol than non-light American beer. So Becks/Heineken/Harp (popular European Lagers) have about the same ABV as Bud (5.0%). They have more flavor than Bud, but not more kick. Something like Guinness has a ton of flavor, but little alcohol (4.2%).
If anything, the trend in American brewing is towards more alcohol. Once you get away from mass-market beer, it's not uncommon to see ABV over 5.5% from smaller American breweries, with IPA's and other "strong" beer often up near (and even over) 7.0%.