Sometimes you can make money simply by drinking beer. A class-action settlement will give Miami households up to $50 in brewski. The reason: Anheuser-Busch made people think Kirin beer was imported from Japan.
On December 17, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida Judge Robert W. Thornton Jr. approved a settlement between the St. Louis beer giant and Miami residents who purchased Kirin beer thinking it was imported from Japan. Under the terms of the settlement, according to law360.com, people who bought Kirin between October 25, 2009, and this past December 17 will receive up to $50 per household if they can show proof of purchase.
See also: Miami Residents Sue Anheuser-Busch Claiming Deceptive Advertisement
Specifically, buyers will be able to receive 50 cents for every six-pack of 12-ounce bottles, $1 for each 12-pack of 12-ounce bottles, or 10 cents for each individual bottle or can. Anheuser-Busch is known for producing nationally popular beers Budweiser and Bud Light.
At the very least, a household will be able to receive up to $12 without proof of purchase. It may not sound like a lot, but it'll be enough to at least buy a sixer of cold brews.
Update: Anyone in the United States is eligible for the settlement. Those who want a piece of the benefit will be able to apply for it starting next week by going to kirinbeersettlement.com.
The lawsuit was filed October 25, 2013, by Miami residents Gustavo E. Oliva and Lady J. Suarez. They believed the beer's label tricked people into believing the beer was brewed in Japan, which it isn't. In the fine print, the label said it was "brewed under Kirin's strict supervision by Anheuser-Busch, Los Angeles, CA and Williamsburg, VA." Because of the this, and the firm's marketing and sales practices, the lawyers sued under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Attempts to reach Suarez and Oliva were unsuccessful.
According to court documents, they said the fine print was too small and that a reasonable consumer wouldn't read it until after they had purchased the beer. (Or maybe, um, sobered up.)
The settlement hasn't been totally approved. A final hearing will be held April 17 at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 10-1 at 73 W. Flagler St. in Miami.
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