Warnings on Beer Cans Unneeded, Court Rules

Breweries are under no legal obligation to label beer cans with warnings about the dangers of intoxication and drunken driving, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The court upheld without comment previous rulings by a Brazoria County trial judge and the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston in favor of Miller Brewing Co.

Miller was a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by Ray Malek, who was injured in a traffic accident allegedly caused by a drunken driver in 1985. The company was accused of failing to warn consumers about the dangers of excessive beer consumption while driving a car and failing to instruct consumers on the safe use of its product.