Sugar rush to defend a favourite Blackpool Bru

AG BArr's chief executive Roger White at the company's factory in Cumbernauld.

Makers of the distinctive orange soft drink, AG Barr, have caused a storm in a tea cup by announcing they are cutting the amount of sugar in Scotland’s other national drink.

A campaign has been launched to get them to change their minds but the firm said people would not notice the difference when the change happens this month.

One coast Scotsman said while the cut in sugar for health reasons was a good idea, Scots would not want the recipe to change drastically.

Craig McOmish, who runs Fleetwood Beach Kiosk, said the drink was a very popular seller especially with the many visiting Scots who come down for their holidays.

He said: “When I came down here and opened the kiosk it was one of the first things to go in the fridge behind the counter.

“I was brought up with it. I love it.

“It is probably a good idea to reduce the sugar and I can understand the concerns, but I think many people won’t really notice because they will drink it with whisky anyway!

“Irn Bru is a proud national tradition.”

In Scotland, fans are reportedly stockpiling the drink ahead of the change and a petition has been launched to save the traditional recipe.

Ryan Allen, who started the Hands Off Our Irn Bru campaign, said: “It is a national treasure in Scotland and really is part of our culture with its unique taste, branding and marketing.

“It’s also well known to alleviate the effects of a hangover and is many a persons’ craving, saviour or go-to drink after a night on the tiles. Don’t do it Barr – please!”

A spokesman from AG Barr, which is acting ahead of the Government’s planned sugar tax on fizzy drinks in April, said: “From January 2018, Irn-Bru will continue to be made using the same secret Irn-Bru flavour essence, but with less sugar.

“The vast majority of our drinkers want to consume less sugar so that’s what we’re now offering.

“We know that our loyal drinkers love Irn-Bru for its unique great taste and we’ve worked hard to deliver this.

“We ran lots of taste tests that showed most people can’t tell the difference - nine out of 10 regular Irn-Bru drinkers told us we had a good or excellent taste match. ”