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If you were duped by Beck's and thought the German-style beer was actually brewed in Germany, your refund will be on its way soon. Anheuser-Busch InBev is ponying up $20 million following a class-action lawsuit settlement over allegations the company "tricked consumers into thinking Beck's was a German beer," and a federal magistrate in Miami approved the payout on Tuesday, reports the Associated Press.
Roughly 1.7 million U.S. households could qualify for settlement payments, according to the AP. Court documents reportedly show that in 2012 the company sold more than 2.6 million cases of Beck's in the U.S. at an average price of $27 each.
Beck's was originally produced in Germany but has been made in St. Louis since 2012. The lawsuit claimed that "phrases featured in Beck's packaging, such as 'German Quality' beer and 'Originated in Bremen, Germany,' gave consumers the wrong impression about where the beer is made." It added that this was "in violation of state consumer protection laws." Beck's drinkers who can produce receipts can get up to $50; no proof of purchase means refunds are capped at $12.
In the grand scheme of things, $20 million is practically chump change for AB InBev. The company is in the process of purchasing rival SABMiller for a whopping $106 billion.
