Tag: alcohol
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Putative “Handmade”-Labeling Class Action Dismissed Against Maker’s Mark
A California federal court has dismissed a putative class action against Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. alleging that its whiskey is mislabeled as “handmade” because it uses machines to produce the product. Nowrouzi v. Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., No. 14-2885 (S.D. Cal., order entered July 27, 2015). Additional information about the complaint appears in Issue 548…
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Vodka Maker to Appeal ASA Ad Ban
Diageo Great Britain Ltd. reportedly plans to appeal the U.K. Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA’s) decision to ban a Smirnoff ® advertisement for allegedly violating the marketing rules for social responsibility in alcohol marketing. Upholding its own complaint, which claimed that the ad in question linked social success to alcohol consumption, ASA found that “the ad’s…
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Anheuser-Busch Settles Beck’s® False Origin Suit
Anheuser-Busch has settled a class action alleging that the company misrepresented Beck’s® beer as brewed in Germany after a 2012 move to a St. Louis brewing facility. Marty v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., LLC, No. 13-23656 (S.D. Fla., preliminary approval entered June 23, 2015). The uncapped settlement will provide payouts to U.S. purchasers of bottles or packages…
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Skinnygirl® Plaintiffs Denied Class Certification
A New Jersey federal court has again denied class certification to a trio of women suing Beam Global Spirits & Wine for allegedly misrepresenting Skinnygirl® Margaritas as using “only natural ingredients” despite containing sodium benzoate. Stewart v. Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., No. 11-5149 (D.N.J., order entered June 8, 2015). Details about the court’s…
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Putative Class Action Challenges Source of Bulleit® Bourbon
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Diageo Americas Supply alleging that its Bulleit® bourbon is not produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, as its label states. M’Baye v. Diageo Ams. Supply, Inc., No. 15-1216 (S.D. Cal., filed June 1, 2015). The complaint asserts that Diageo does not operate a distillery in Lawrenceburg and further…
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New York Times Explores English Monks’ Caffeinated Wine
Buckfast Abbey, an English monastery approaching its millennial anniversary, has drawn criticism for its production of a sweet caffeinated wine, The New York Times reports. The beverage, which the abbey sells in 750-milliliter bottles through a distributor, is 15 percent alcohol and contains more than 300 milligrams of caffeine. The fortified wine was originally sold…
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BMA Scotland Supports Measure to Ban Alcohol Ads at Sporting Events
The British Medical Association in Scotland (BMA Scotland) has reportedly backed legislation under consideration by the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee that seeks to ban alcohol advertising at all events geared toward children younger than age 18. According to media reports, the proposed measure would also prohibit the marketing of alcoholic beverages near schools…
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Kahlua® Makers Pursue “Kahfua” Makers in Court
Absolut Co. has filed a complaint and a motion for an injunction against Happy Hearts Wine LLC, a New York City importer of Israeli wine, after Absolut noticed a Certificate of Label Approval filed with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for “Kahfua,” which it alleges is too close to Kahlua®. Absolut Co.…