Two Miami residents have filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch claiming false advertisement.
Lady J. Suarez and Gustavo E. Oliva say that the mega-brewery has violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit, filed last month, claims A-B's Kirin beer is deceptively advertised as being imported from Japan.
See also: Best Cheap Beers: If You Must Buy at a 24-Hour Gas Station, Here Are Your Choices
On its label, Kirin beer reads: "Brewed under Kirin's strict supervision by Anheuser-Busch, Los Angeles, CA and Williamsburg, VA."
The plaintiffs claim this is inadequate, because consumers can't see it unless the bottle is removed from its packaging.
Suarez and Oliva say that consumers are willing to pay a higher price for imported beer, which is typically made with high-quality ingredients and centuries-old brewing practices. Furthermore, this confusion extends to bars and retailers, who charge more for the beer based on these assertions.
"As a result of these unfair and deceptive practices, the defendant has collected millions of dollars from the sale of Kirin beer that it would not have otherwise earned," says the lawsuit. "Plaintiffs paid money for a product that is not what it claims to be or what they bargained for."
Get more beer by following David Minsky on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Short Order on Facebook, on Twitter @Short_Order, and Instagram @ShortOrder.