Inmates Sue Beer, Wine Companies For $1 Billion In Idaho

A group of inmates in Iowa have filed a $1 billion lawsuit against several beer and wine companies for contributing to their delinquency. Cory Baugh, Jeremy Brown, Keith Allen Brown, Woodrow Grant, and Steven Thompson say that they wouldn’t be in jail if it wasn’t for alcohol and that Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Miller Brewing, and Jim Beam whiskey are the ones responsible for their crimes.

The lawsuit, which was filed on December 10, states:

“(The plaintiffs would not have done the) actions which have caused them to become incarcerated for a great portion of their lives. The plaintiffs claim if they had not been addicted to the products sold by the defendants that they would have lead normal lives as productive members of society.”

In addition to $1 billion, the inmates are asking for companies like Anheuser-Busch to start putting warning labels on their products.

Jeremy Brown added:

“I have spent a great deal of that time in prison because of situations that have arose because of people being drunk, or because of situations in which alcohol played a major role. At no time in my life, prior to me becoming an alcoholic, was I ever informed that alcohol was habit forming and addictive.”

ABC reports that the five inmates are currently living at Idaho’s Kuna facility.

What do you think about the inmates lawsuit? Boise attorney Joe Filicetti said that it was “common knowledge” that alcoholic drinks “reduce your inhibitions” and that alcohol is an addictive substance but that may not mean that the lawsuit is dead in the water. The cigarette industry has endured several lawsuits in the past and was recently forced to add graphic labels to their packaging.

Do you think beer cans should have warning labels?