Here’s How to Claim Your Cash from the Anheuser-Busch Ritas Settlement

It’s five o’clock somewhere, especially if you’ve bought any of Anheuser-Busch’s Ritas-brand Margarita, Spritz and Fizz products within the last four years.

Through a new class action settlement, consumers who bought the beverages – which a lawsuit alleged were falsely advertised as containing wine or distilled spirits like tequila – can recover more than $20 with proof of purchase.

Read on to learn more about the settlement and how you can file a claim for some cash.

Who’s covered by the settlement?

The deal, which received preliminary approval from the court on July 19, 2022, covers all consumers who bought any of the more than 100 Ritas products listed here for personal consumption and not for resale at any time between January 1, 2018 and July 19 of this year.

Visit the official settlement website here.

I’ve bought some Ritas drinks. How do I get my money?

To receive some cash from the settlement, start here, on the claim form page.

After filling out your contact information up top, scroll down to the next section and select whether you’re submitting a claim with or without proof of purchase. Then, hit the “Next” button and finish the process.

Some people who are covered by the settlement, called “class members,” may have received a unique 10-digit ID number (learn more about that here) that they can include on their claim form. If you didn’t receive one, that’s OK—you can still file a claim for compensation.

As for proof of purchase, receipts and other proof showing payment for the drinks can be uploaded online. Printed claim forms that are filed by mail must be sent along with copies of your proof of purchase (if you’re filing this way) to the settlement administrator. If you have receipts for some of your Ritas purchases, but not all, you may choose to file a claim with or without proof of purchase, not both, the settlement website says.

Is the website legit?

Yes. It has been designated by the court as the official website for the settlement and where consumers will need to go if they want to file claims.

How much can I get?

A consumer who submits a claim with proof of purchase can receive up to $21.25, and someone who submits a claim without proof of purchase can receive up to $9.75, the official settlement website says.

In addition to providing consumers with some money back, the deal also calls for Anheuser-Busch to add the phrase “malt beverage” to the drinks and their product packaging. The beverage maker will also be required to add the phrase “[d]oes not contain distilled spirits” to applicable product pages on its website. Anheuser-Busch must keep these changes in place for at least five years from December 2, 2022.

When’s the deadline?

The deadline by which to file claims online or by mail is December 16, 2022.

The only way to get cash from the settlement is by filing a claim form. If you do nothing, you will receive no payment and lose the right to sue Anheuser-Busch over the claims lodged in the proposed class action.

When will I get my Ritas settlement money?

Settlement money will be distributed to eligible claimants sometime after December 2, 2022, when the court will have a hearing on whether to grant the deal final approval, and after any appeals are resolved. The official settlement website says that the appeals process can take time and asks consumers to be patient.

I need more information. What can I do?

We suggest that you reach out to the settlement administrator at 1-888-905-0657 or info@RitasSettlement.com.

What was this lawsuit about?

The initial proposed class action was lodged in September 2020 and alleged that defendant Anheuser-Busch misled consumers into believing that the Ritas beverages contained distilled spirits or wine, which is untrue.

The settlement was ultimately reached after months of mediation and finalized in July 2022.

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