In May, we reported that a tentative settlement was reached in a case against Anheuser-Busch for marketing its “Ritas†brand of drinks like “Lime-A-Rita,†which did not contain tequila, “Ritas Sangria Spritz,†which did not contain red wine, and “Ritas Mohito Fizz†when in fact it did not contain rum.
The only disclosure about this was on the bottom of the carton, where consumers are not likely to look nor understand that fact based on the wording they used.
Now the parties have reach a more specific agreement.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Settlement Class members may seek a refund for a maximum total refund of $21.25 per Household with Proof of Purchase. Settlement Class members may seek a maximum total refund of $9.75 per Household without Proof of Purchase.
A-B has also agreed to make changes to the marketing, labeling, and packaging of the Products, including the addition of the word “Malt Beverage†on the consumer facing panels of the Product packaging, and clear disclaimers on the website noting that each of the Products “Does not contain distilled spirits.â€
So the company will modify their labeling and pay ten or twenty dollars to affected consumers. But honestly, the mock-up of this part of their new label doesn’t seem to communicate an awful lot new in a conspicuous manner.
The judge still has to approve the settlement. We’ll provide a link in Consumer World to the claim form at that time.
1) The lawyers get up to $2.1 million.
2) Who in the world will have proof of purchase?
3) How in the world are they going to identify the purchasers?
Last summer we tried and enjoyed the Lime-A-Rita for what it is. And, being a careful label reader, we were quite clear before purchase that this was a malt beverage product and not a tequila product.
Being and Anheuser-Busch product we had no great expectations for what we were buying. I am surprised the complaint prevailed and that AB is making this large of a payout.
All I can say is, Cheers!
The real-life version of Duff Brewery missed out on a chance to have Rita Moreno as its spokesman for this malt-beverage product…
We as ‘human beings’ are doomed! Is it possible that we could get any stupider?
The new label is still a flat-out lie. A Margarita has tequila, orange liqueur. Lime-a-Rita has neither. I’m not even sure it has lime juice (OR salt on the rim), as the ingredients are listed as “Water , Corn Syrup , High Fructose Corn Syrup , Barley Malt , Citric Acid , Sodium Citrate , Natural And Artificial Flavors , Caramel Color , Hop Extract .”
By these lax standards, they could just as easily call this “Lime-aide,” or a daiquiri, or a mojito.
IMO, Anheuser-Busch shouldn’t be able to get away with calling it anything more suggestive than “Imitation Margar-eeta citrus-flavored beer drink”
Absolutely agree Alan. At best AnBev should be able to call this a “Sparkling Margarita flavored malt beverage.”
I have not bought any Anheuser-Bush products for forty years. My only regret is that I cannot, in good conscience, cash in on this. I will not buy their products, but I wouldn’t pass up a chance to take some money from them.