Beck’s Non-Alcoholic Drinks Labels Aren’t Misleading, Brewer Claims

Anheuser-Busch is challenging allegations that the labeling on its non-alcoholic drinks are intentionally misleading, arguing that the information follows regulations by clearly stating that traces of alcohol are present in the product. 

The brewer filed a motion on Friday requesting to have a complaint that was filed early January dismissed, alleging that the claims are based on false premises. 

Plaintiffs Denise Angiano and Charley Karpinski, two California consumers, initially filed the lawsuit against the brewing company claiming that the language used on the product’s labeling was deceiving, and led them to believe that the product was alcohol-free.

Anheuser-Busch argued in the motion that despite the claims of misleading labeling, the label for Anheuser-Busch’s Beck’s Non-Alcoholic malt beverage states it “contains less than 0.5% alc. by vol,” which is below the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) category regulations requirements for non-alcoholic beer.  

The brewery further challenged the consumer’s claims that the product fails to include the government-required alcohol content statement on the label, stating that the alcohol content is displayed on both the front and back label of Beck’s Non-Alcoholic products. 

An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told Law360 on Monday, “Non and low alcohol products are an important part of our portfolio and we comply with all regulatory labeling requirements.”

Beck’s Non-Alcoholic Consumers Plan to File an Opposition

Thiago Coelho of Wilshire Law Firm PLC, the attorney representing Angiano and Karpinski, told Law360 that his clients stand by the allegations in the initial complaint, and intend to file an opposition on Monday. 

“This deception deprives consumers of the right to make informed decisions about the beverages they consume,” Coelho said. “Such deception is particularly detrimental to those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or practicing sobriety for any other health or personal reasons. Members of the public deserve to know whether the beverages they consume contain any amount of alcohol.”

Over the years multinational brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev has faced allegations of misconduct from consumers. Several lawsuits against Anheuser-Busch have been filed following a variety of allegations related to worker’s rights violations, false advertising, and manipulating consumers.

In November 2000, a pair of consumers filed a class action lawsuit alleging that Anheuser-Busch misleadingly advertised its Lime-A-Rita Sparkling Margarita products. The suit claimed that the brewer dupes consumers into thinking that it puts tequila in its Lime-A-Rita.

Do you drink non-alcoholic beer? Have you been a victim of misleading labeling? Let us know in the comments below. 

Angiano and Karpinski are represented by Thiago Coelho and Cinela Aziz of Wilshire Law Firm PLC.

Anheuser-Busch is represented by David H. Stern and Dyanne J. Cho of Baker & Hostetler LLP and James F. Bennett of Dowd Bennett LLP.

The Anheuser-Busch Non-Alcohol Lawsuit is Angiano et al. v. Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., case number 2:21-cv-00435, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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