28 Feb 2013

Watery beer claim

9:36 am on 28 February 2013

Beer drinkers in the United States have filed a $US5 million lawsuit accusing Anheuser-Busch of watering down its beer.

Cases filed in Pennsylvania, California and other states, claim consumers have been cheated out of the alcohol content stated on beer labels.

The suit involves 10 Anheuser-Busch beers including Budweiser and Michelob.

Anheuser-Busch InBev have called the claims "completely false".

"Our beers are in full compliance with labelling laws,'' the said in a statement.

The lawsuits are based on information from former employees who claim the company adds water just before bottling, reducing the alcohol content by 3% - 8%.

The BBC reports it is claimed that the practice began after Anheuser-Busch merged with InBev of Belgium-Brazil in 2008.