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Bud Light LimeAnheuser-Busch, LLC was hit with a false advertising class action lawsuit in a California court by a woman who alleges that its Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita beverage is not “light” at all.

Plaintiff Sheila Cruz explains in her Bud Light class action lawsuit filed on Nov. 12 that she purchased Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita in October at a store in South Gate, California, in the Los Angeles area, “believing that she was purchasing a product that was low in calories and carbohydrates as it is labeled as a ‘Bud Light’ and/or a ‘Bud Light Lime’ product.”

She claims that “instead of receiving a ‘light’ beverage, plaintiff received a product that contained 220 calories per eight fluid ounces and 21.9 grams of carbohydrates per eight fluid ounces, which is significantly more calories and carbohydrates than any other Anheuser-Busch alcoholic beverage.”

The California woman alleges that she was deceived by the word “light” on the label and that the use of the word “light” on the five Bud Light Lime ‘Rita products is misleading to the general public by giving the impression that the beverage products are “light” meaning that they are low in calories and carbohydrates.

The Bud Light Lime products at issue include the Lime-A-Rita, Raz-Ber-Rita, Staw-Ber-Rita, Mang-O-Rita and Apple-Ahhh-Rita.

However, she says that they are “not ‘light’ in any definition of the term” because they each contain anywhere from 192 calories to 220 calories in an eight ounce can, according to the Bud Light class action lawsuit.

By comparison, a 12 ounce can of Budweiser has 145 calories and 10.6 grams of carbohydrates. A Bud Light has 110 calories per 12 ounce can and 6.6 grams of carbohydrates, and Bud Light Lime consists of 115 calories per 12 ounce can and eight grams of carbohydrates.

“Thus, ounce for ounce, the Lime-A-Rita has 129 percent extra calories than the non-light Budweiser and 185 percent extra calories than Bud Light Lime,” Cruz explains further.

“Despite being labeled a ‘light’ product, the Bud Light Lime ‘Rita Products actually contain more than twice as many calories than Bud Light and more than four times as many carbohydrates,” according to the false advertising class action lawsuit.

Cruz claims that “consumers who purchase defendant’s Bud Light Lime ‘Rita Products . . . rely on defendant’s representation that their products are ‘light.’ As a result, consumers are purchasing a product that has been misbranded and falsely advertised as a ‘light’ product.”

Anheuser-Busch first started selling “Bud Light Lime” in 2008. In 2012, the beverage company introduced Lime-A-Rita, as part of its Bud Light Lime line with Straw-Ber-Rita following in 2013 and Raz-Ber-Rita, Mang-O-Rita, and Apple-Ahhh-Rita following in 2014. They each contain “Bud Light Lime” logo.

According to the Bud Light false advertising class action lawsuit, “upon information and belief, defendant’s The Bud Light Lime ‘Rita Products are not ‘light’ and are worse than even Defendant’s ‘non-light’ beers, including its flagship products, Budweiser, which contains approximately 145 calories per 12 fluid ounces.”

Cruz is seeking to represent two classes — a nationwide class and a California class who purchased any of the Bud Light Lime ‘Rita products four years prior to when this class action lawsuit was filed and through the date of judgement.

The charges against Anheuser-Busch includes a violation of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California’s False Advertising Law, California’s Unfair Competition Law,  and breach of express warranty.

Cruz is represented by Christopher O. Ridout, Caleb Marker of Ridout Lyon & Ottoson LLP and Kevin Mahoney, Sam Kim and Nick Poper of Mahoney Law Group APC.

Counsel information for Anheuser-Busch is not yet available.

The Bud Light Lime-A-Rita False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit is Sheila Cruz v. Anheuser-Busch LLC, Case No. BC 563150, in the Superior Court of California in the County of Los Angeles.

UPDATE: On April 22, 2016, on appeal to the federal Ninth Circuit, a group of consumers are trying to revive claims that Bud Light Lime-A-Rita and similar drinks are deceptively labeled.

UPDATE 2: On Feb. 7, 2017, a plaintiff representing a proposed Class of Bud Light Lime-A-Rita drinkers asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revive a class action lawsuit alleging Anheuser-Busch LLC dupes consumers into thinking the beverage is low-calorie even though it is loaded with sugar.

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8 thoughts onBud Light Lime-A-Rita Is Not ‘Light,’ Class Action Says

  1. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE 2: On Feb. 7, 2017, a plaintiff representing a proposed Class of Bud Light Lime-A-Rita drinkers asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revive a class action lawsuit alleging Anheuser-Busch LLC dupes consumers into thinking the beverage is low-calorie even though it is loaded with sugar.

  2. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: On April 22, 2016, on appeal to the federal Ninth Circuit, a group of consumers are trying to revive claims that Bud Light Lime-A-Rita and similar drinks are deceptively labeled.

  3. Coco Smith says:

    Omg I’ve been drinking these for years and tried several flavors of lime a ritas and still purchase them this day I never knew of this lawsuit until today

  4. Lisa says:

    I feel so tricked! My friends & I used to drink this.

  5. Kent says:

    If a brand name that’s been around for a while is enough reason to file suit, what about Chock Full O’ Nuts, Seattle’s Best, or the numerous eponymous stores that are no longer owned/operated by the family represented by the store’s name?

    Don’t prove an answer to the following question: If a Safeway is, for example, robbed at gunpoint, is that a case of misrepresentation?

    Would Bay Area Rapid Transit only work if it was run by Bart Simpson?

    1. Chris Richardson says:

      It was a choice made by the suit and ties and the marketing execs—-they could have EASILY used Budweiser Lime-A-Rita. Without the fricking Light. Could they have not? Hmmmmm?…..I will answer that for you–thats a YES…..But what we have here is a group of Bud marketing execs (boy I hate liars..i mean marketers) a group of them saying—our target audience will be women and men who like fruity drinks…..but our core bud drinkers are manly blue-collars. However–our Bud Light drinkers are mostly women and men who also like fruity drinks…..Thats a match! We can make more $$$ money if we market it simply as Light! …………. we now they will pay millions for that awful selfish greedy decision. NOT comparable to your analogy. But keep reaching!

  6. Chris Richardson says:

    I won’t be drinking this as much now. They should label it properly…. Hence, the reason for these lawsuits.

  7. david says:

    Regardless of what happens with the lawsuit, the product was a disaster, imo. I’ve been a beer drinker for years….bud light, bud light lime, etc. A friend of mine bought me some limearita……yuck!! I wound up using it as marinade for some steaks.

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