Heineken USA Incorporated, under its Dos Equis brand, makes a product called Ranch Water Hard Seltzer Classic Lime. But is the product what it claims to be? No, says the complaint for this class action, which alleges that it is not ranch water and not made with lime, but a form of beer with “natural flavors” other than lime.
Two classes have been defined for this action:
- The Illinois Class is all persons in Illinois who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
- The Consumer Fraud Multi-State Class is all persons in Texas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Maine, and Utah who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
The complaint alleges that ranch water probably had its origins on the ranches of West Texas, where it’s very hot: Cowboys “would often begin the day with a thermos full of tequila and ice, and after lunch they would add lime, a staple of their Tex-Mex cuisine. … at some point, carbonated water was added to improve refreshment.”
Ranch water has become popular for a number of reasons, the complaint says. For example, it claims consumers are moving away from sugary drinks to drinks they can make themselves, with simple, natural ingredients that are not highly processed. Also, the complaint quotes an unspecified source as calling tequila, made from the agave plant, “the fastest-growing spirits category[.]”
It alleges that ranch water’s “tequila, lime juice and sparkling water over ice” gives the impression that it is “better for you” in place of other alcoholic drinks. Finally, the associations with western ranching “appeal to a sense of adventure.”
Page 1 of the complaint shows the packaging of a six-pack of the drink and an individual can, showing the words “Ranch Water,” “Hard Seltzer,” “Classic Lime,” and “Naturally Flavored with Other Natural Flavors,” along with a large X in lime-green as a background.
According to the complaint, consumers will read “Ranch Water” and “Hard” to mean that the drink contains distilled spirits, like tequila. But page 4 of the complaint reproduces the ingredient panel which lists no tequila, only “Alcohol (From Sugar).” The complaint alleges that the alcohol is therefore only a form of fermented sugar, or beer.
Also, the flavoring appears to come from “Natural Flavors” and “Citric Acid,” with no real lime, the complaint alleges, saying that the term “Natural Flavors” “refers to a synthesized blend of substances prepared in a laboratory which may contain not more than a de minimis or negligible amount of lime.” In fact, the complaint claims that the lack of any specifically lime ingredient indicates that the product does not contain any lime.
The complaint claims, “Nowhere on any visible part of the packaging or label are consumers told they are not buying a beverage without tequila but actually one classified as a flavored beer.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Dos Equis “Ranch Water” Lacks Tequila and Lime, Says Complaint
December 12, 2022
Heineken USA Incorporated, under its Dos Equis brand, makes a product called Ranch Water Hard Seltzer Classic Lime. But is the product what it claims to be? No, says the complaint for this class action, which alleges that it is not ranch water and not made with lime, but a form of beer with “natural flavors” other than lime.
Dos Equis “Ranch Water” Lacks Tequila and Lime, Says ComplaintCase Event History
Dos Equis “Ranch Water” Lacks Tequila and Lime, Says Complaint
December 12, 2022
Heineken USA Incorporated, under its Dos Equis brand, makes a product called Ranch Water Hard Seltzer Classic Lime. But is the product what it claims to be? No, says the complaint for this class action, which alleges that it is not ranch water and not made with lime, but a form of beer with “natural flavors” other than lime.
Dos Equis “Ranch Water” Lacks Tequila and Lime, Says Complaint