Kirin® Beer

In December 2014, a state judge preliminarily approved a settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch. The complaint, which was originally filed in 2013, claims that the company misleadingly markets Kirin beer as being imported from Japan without adequately disclosing that it is actually brewed in the United States.

According to the settlement terms, class members may receive a $0.50 refund for every purchase of a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles, a $1 refund for every purchase of a 12-pack of 12-ounce bottles, and a $0.10 refund for every purchase of an individual bottle or can. Class members with proof of purchase may receive a maximum refund of $50 and class members without proof of purchase may receive a maximum refund of $12.

In addition, the company agreed to stop describing the beer as imported and to prominently display the phrase “Brewed under Kirin’s strict supervision by Anheuser-Busch in Los Angeles, CA and Williamsburg, VA” on the Kirin beer labels and packaging. (Suarez et al v. Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC, Case No. 2013-33620-CA-01, Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida).

For more information about other class-action lawsuits filed against Anheuser-Busch and TINA.org’s coverage of the company, click here.

For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding the misleading advertising of alcohol and TINA.org’s coverage of the issue, click here.