THE TEQUILA ADDITIVE FREE LAWSUIT
The Lawsuits
Multiple class-action lawsuits filed in 2025 allege that Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas, both owned by the parent company Diageo, are falsely labeled and marketed as "100% agave". Plaintiffs claim that lab tests show the products contain non-agave, industrial alcohol, such as cane spirits
Allegations of the Lawsuits
- False advertising: The lawsuits contend that Diageo misled consumers into paying premium prices for Don Julio and Casamigos by marketing them as 100% agave tequila.
- Lab testing: The plaintiffs in the California suit have submitted lab results based on carbon isotope analysis, which they claim proves the presence of non-agave-derived ethanol in the products.
- Regulatory violations: The complaints assert that if the products contain non-agave alcohol, they would not meet the official standards to be legally labeled as "100% agave" in both the U.S. and Mexico. Tequilas containing other sugars are classified as "mixtos".
- RICO charges: One of the lawsuits, filed in California, includes charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It alleges that Diageo and Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) conspired in a "fraudulent scheme" to illegally profit from the sale of adulterated tequila.
Diageo's Response
Diageo has strongly denied the allegations, calling them "outrageous and categorically false". The company asserts that:
- Its tequilas are made from 100% Blue Weber agave and meet all regulatory requirements.
- The products have passed a rigorous certification process by the CRT, Mexico's tequila regulatory body.
- Diageo is "vigorously" defending itself in court against the claims.
Key Information
- Who is being sued: The defendant is Diageo, the global spirits company that owns the Don Julio and Casamigos brands.
- Who is suing: The plaintiffs are consumers who bought the tequila brands, believing they were 100% agave based on product labels and marketing.
- Key issue: The core dispute is whether Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas truly contain 100% agave alcohol, as advertised, or if they are mixed with cheaper, non-agave alcohol.