Judge Finds ‘Bud Gear’ Ads Illegal

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne ruled that Anheuser-Busch Cos. violated state law with its “Bud Gear” promotion, which offered consumers merchandise for drinking Budweiser. California liquor laws forbid offering premiums or gifts in connection with the sale of alcohol. However, Wayne ruled that Anheuser-Busch may continue the promotion, which began in May and is scheduled to end in November, but only with merchandise that has already been manufactured. That’s because the state failed to prove that Anheuser-Busch used misleading advertising and the state did not interpret the law “in a clear and timely fashion,” so that preventing the company from completing the promotion would be unfair, Wayne ruled.