Cinemark’s Deceptive Drink Sizes: False Advertising Lawsuit Reveals “Shrinkflation” Trend

A lawsuit has been filed against Cinemark alleging that the theater chain’s 24-ounce drink cups only hold 22 ounces, leading to false advertising and misleading customers. The lead plaintiff, Shane Waldrop, discovered this after ordering a beer from a Texas cinema on Valentine’s Day this year and finding that the container seemed too small for its advertised capacity of 24 ounces. Upon measuring it at home, he found that Cinemark’s drink cups only hold 22 ounzes.
The lawsuit claims that Cinemark is violating both state and federal laws through false advertising, as consumers are overpaying for a supposed benefit they are not receiving. According to the suit, while two ounces may seem insignificant to the seller, it adds up when considering the bottom line – customers aren’t getting what they pay for from Cinemark.
Cinemark did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on this matter; however, in previous reports of rising concession revenue and higher prices, some have suggested that companies are engaging in shrinkflation by reducing product sizes rather than increasing costs during times of high inflation. This practice has been criticized as a way for corporations to cut expenses while providing underperforming or incomplete products at overinflated pricing structures.
Class actions aim to combat business practices deemed unfavorable and promote fairer consumer experiences, according to Jarrett Ellzey, one of Waldrop’s attorneys. The lawsuit argues that consumers are tired of not receiving value for their money while corporations profit from underperforming or incomplete products, with class action lawsuits functioning as a tool for addressing these issues.
This isn’t the first time confectionery brands have been accused of engaging in shrinkflation; OREO Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies saw a 6% decrease in size by weight from January 2019 to October 2023, according to data presented by Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in December using Labor Department statistics. Consumers have been critical of such practices as they feel that corporations are taking advantage of their financial situations during times of high inflation while providing underperforming or insufficient products at inflated prices.