A class action lawsuit alleging that Anheuser-Busch did not make it clear that its sparkling ‘Ritas’ RTD did not contain real Tequila has been wound up, with consumers entitled to compensation.

A federal lawsuit filed against parent company Anheuser-Busch said customers were misled by the Ritas line of malt beverages because real margaritas contain tequila, which the Bud Light canned concoctions do not have.

“Nowhere on the packaging did [the plaintiff] see a disclaimer or any other statement indicating that the margarita product does not contain tequila, or that the product is just a flavored beer,” the complaint reads. The suit didn’t go to court, with Anheuser-Busch admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to settle for an undisclosed sum.

The class action lawsuit filed in 2020 claimed that Anheuser-Busch was misleading consumers into believing that its ‘sparkling margarita’ canned cocktails actually contained spirits.

Two years later, the case has been settled and it’s not good news for Anheuser-Busch who has agreed to financially compensate consumers who purchased Ritas products between 1st January 2018 and 19 July 2022.

The claims process has opened and any consumer who believes they may be eligible for a refund can submit a form via the website RitasSettlement.com. With proof of purchase, drinkers can claim up to US$21.25 per household, but even without proof of purchase, a claim can be made for up to US$9.75.

The settlement page also writes:

“This website provides information about a settlement reached in a class action lawsuit filed against Defendant Anheuser-Busch, LLC (‘Anheuser-Busch’ or ‘Defendant’) regarding Ritas™ Brand Products for alleged violations of false advertising laws for representations that Ritas™ Brand Products contain certain distilled spirits (such as tequila) and/or wine when they do not. The Defendant denies all allegations and has settled this lawsuit to avoid further litigation. The Court has not decided who is right.

“You may be a ‘Settlement Class Member’ if you are a person who purchased for personal consumption, and not for resale, any Ritas™ Brand Product in the U.S., from January 1, 2018, through July 19, 2022. You may be an ‘Injunctive Relief Class Member’ if you purchased for personal consumption, and not for resale, any Ritas™ Brand Product in the U.S., from January 1, 2018, through 60 days following the Effective Date (which is the date the Final Approval Order becomes final and non-appealable [typically 30 days after the entry of judgment unless an appeal is taken]). Injunctive relief means Anheuser-Busch will make certain changes to its marketing and advertising practices with respect to the Ritas™ Brand.”

If you happen to enjoy the beverages, there isn’t any trouble or health hazard involved, so that’s a blessing. What isn’t is how some believe a malt beverage sold alongside beer is going to contain any true spirits. Some states won’t even sell both in the same location, so it likely was assumed people understood the contents.

Not so, according to the settlement details. Even the lower 8% ABV didn’t provide a hint that this wasn’t a true margarita, but it played the part effectively.

Watch the video report below for more details: