Coca-Cola Defeats Deception Claims Over Margarita Hard Seltzer

Coca-Cola didn’t mislead consumers when selling a margarita hard seltzer with Topo Chico branding that didn’t have tequila in it, a federal judge ruled.

Kari Warren alleged in an August 2022 complaint that Topo Chico Margarita Hard Seltzer’s use of the word “margarita” and the label’s imagery of an agave plant misled consumers into believing the product contained tequila.

Warren argued using margarita on the label meant consumers expected a drink that included tequila. The US District Court for the Southern District of New York said April 21 the word modified the phrase “hard seltzer” instead.

Judge Cathy Seibel wrote ...