Beck’s faces $20m payout over labelling

Beck’s has been ordered to offer up to 1.7 million US households share of a $20 million refund after settling a lawsuit that claimed its packaging wrongly implied its beer was brewed in Germany.

A lawsuit was filed against Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2013 by three Florida men who complained that the labelling of Beck’s bottles had tricked them into believing the beer was a German pilsner, brewed in Germany.

While Beck’s was originally brewed in Germany, production moved to St Louis in Missouri in 2002 when Belgium’s Interbew merged with Brazil’s AmBev, which then acquired Anheuser-Busch.

The trio claimed the packaging was misleading as it promoted “Germany Quality” and suggested it “Originated in Germany”. The lawsuit claimed this was a deliberate tactic by the brewer so it could sell the beer at a higher price than domestic beers.

A judge already ordered the brewer to offer refunds of up to $50 dollars per household earlier this year, but only approved the $20 million settlement this week, with a site now set up through which consumers can claim refunds.

An estimated 1.7 million US households could qualify for settlement payments, with the company selling more than 2.6m cases of Beck’s in the US in 2012 alone.

Anyone who bought Beck’s at retail outlets as far back as 1 May 2011 could receive a payout. People with receipts to prove they bought Beck’s at retail outlets could get up to $50 per household, while those without receipts could still qualify for a $12 maximum refund.

Under the settlement, ABInbev denied the claims and that it violated any laws, “believing its labelling, packaging, and marketing of Beck’s Beer have always been truthful and not deceptive”.

ABInBev did agree to make labelling adjustments on Beck’s bottles clarifying that the beer is made in the US.

Claims must be filed by 20 November via a court-approved website becksbeersettlement.com.