Tag: alcohol
-
ASA Dismisses Complaint Against Guinness’ Tweet*
The U.K. Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) has dismissed a complaint alleging that a message on Diageo Great Britain Ltd.’s Guinness® Twitter feed “implied that someone’s week would be improved by drinking alcohol.” Filed by Alcohol Concern, the complaint dubbed a tweet appearing on @GuinnessGB “irresponsible” for featuring a photograph of the iconic brewery’s gates with…
-
Busch® Beer Not A “Product of U.S.A.,” Suit Alleges
Two consumers have filed a putative class action against Anheuser-Busch in California state court alleging that the company misuses the “Product of U.S.A.” claim on Busch® beer cans because the product is brewed with imported hops. Nixon v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., LLC, No. 15-544985 (Cal. Super. Ct., San Francisco Cty., filed March 27, 2015). The complaint…
-
Whiskey-Labeling Exemption Is Unconstitutional, Says Tennessee AG
The Tennessee Office of the Attorney General has released an opinion finding that a state law requiring products labeled as “Tennessee Whiskey” or similar designations to be filtered through charcoal unconstitutionally exempts Prichard’s Distillery because the statute includes a grandfather clause created to apply only to the distillery. The 2013 law codified the “Lincoln County Process”…
-
Putative Class Action Alleges Low-Cost Wines Contain “Dangerously High” Arsenic Levels
Citing independent product tests, four consumers seeking to represent a class have filed a lawsuit in California state court alleging that dozens of wineries in the state manufacture and sell wine that contains as much as five times the maximum safe daily limit of arsenic. Charles v. The Wine Grp., Inc., No. BC576061 (Cal. Super.…
-
New York Senator Introduces Bill to Prohibit Powdered Alcohol
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has introduced legislation that would ban the production, sale, distribution or possession of powdered alcohol. Schumer sponsored a similar initiative in 2014, and introduction of the new bill comes on the heels of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s March 10, 2015, approval of four labels for flavored…
-
Lawsuit Challenges Jim Beam’s “Handcrafted” Claim
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Jim Beam Brands Co. and its owner Beam Suntory Import Co. alleging that the label indicating that the bourbon whiskey is “handcrafted” is misleading because the bourbon is produced with machines. Welk v. Beam Suntory Import Co., No. 15-328 (U.S. Dist. Ct., filed February 17, 2015).…
-
More State Lawmakers Want to Prohibit Powdered Alcohol
State legislators in Wisconsin and Illinois have proposed bills that would ban the sale and distribution of powdered alcohol, which may enter the market in spring 2015 under the brand name Palcohol. Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee), who proposed the Wisconsin legislation, reportedly compared the product to the synthetic hallucinogenic drug known as “bath salts,” which…
-
FTC Seeks Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Comments
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is soliciting comments on proposed amendments to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The 1967 law requires that certain products carry labels with identifying information such as the source, content and quantity and specifically excludes—among other categories—meat products, poultry and alcohol beverages. FTC sought comments on the existing…