"Jamaican" beer not brewed in Jamaica

The San Diego law firm of Robbins Arroyo, representing two local plaintiffs, filed a suit in federal court in San Diego against Diageo, the big London alcoholic beverage firm. It is a putative class action suit on behalf of all drinkers of Red Stripe beer.

The gist is that Red Stripe beer is not brewed in Jamaica. Diageo uses clever phrasing in its promotion. Red Stripe is called a "Jamaican Style Lager" that contains the "taste of Jamaica." For 80 years, "Red Stripe has embodied the spirit, rhythm and pulse of Jamaica and its people." The bottle structure is short, squat, and brown — closely associated with Jamaican beer bottles, says the complaint.

However, on the border of the labels are these words: "Brewed & Bottled by Red Stripe Beer Company, Latrobe, PA." The plaintiffs contend that this disclaimer is in "obscure white text," and the consumer can't see those words until after he or she has purchased a six-pack or twelve-pack.

The suit, charging unfair and deceptive practices, was filed July 29.