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When it was announced Irn-Bru was changing its recipe many feared the worst.

So we've put the first batch to a taste test to find out if it really can retain its status Scotland's other national drink .

The new reduced-sugar Irn-Bru will be heading to a shop near you at the end of the month.

(Image: Daily Record)

But makers AG Barr gave us a sneak preview by sending us a case of the new drink and we headed out to the centre of Glasgow to conduct a blind taste test using the old full-sugar Girders can and the latest version.

The results were certainly surprising.

(Image: Daily Record)

"I can't really tell the difference," said 60-year-old Anne Smeaton.

"I don't know, they taste the same," said Charlotte Ash, from Lemington Spa.

"I've got good tastebuds, but the only reason I knew the difference was by looking at it," claimed 32-year-old Ahmed Abutoq, who was one of the few to identify the new recipe.

International DJ Jackmaster, fresh off a flight from Australia and desperate for his first Irn-Bru in three weeks, was certain that he was drinking from an original recipe can.

(Image: Collect Unknown)

When he found out that it contained half the sugar and that he was wrong, he couldn't believe it.

"That is sound as f***!" he exclaimed.

"I had faith in you the whole time Barr's.

"I told all the naysayers you were going to come through with the goods, and you've absolutely smashed it."

(Image: Daily Record)

Oscar Turner, a 21-year-old from Devon, said "That's got half the sugar? Wow, you got me!"

Criminal lawyer Manus Tolland said: "The new one tasted sweeter than the old one."

The 68-year-old from Paisley also failed to identify the new can from the old can.

Bang on the money was the verdict of the Wilson sisters from Motherwell.

"I like the taste of the new one," said Melissa, 18.

"I think they're both nice," added 24-year-old Rebecca.

(Image: Daily Record)

Out of the people we surveyed, less than a quarter correctly identified the old and new recipes.

Barr's, who make the drink, said: "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.

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

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

Barr's certainly has a job on its hands if it is to keep the Scottish public sweet as they introduce their low sugar recipe. A petition was even started by Ryan Allen which demanded they reverse their decision and it has already gained 44,000 signatures and counting.

Ryan 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.

(Image: Daily recods)

"Don't do it Barr - please have a rethink on this."

Despite his best efforts, the 'Hands Off Our Irn Bru campaign' has lost its battle, and the new cans and bottles are set to hit the shelves at the end of the month.

The switch to the new recipe was announced on the Irn-Bru twitter page yesterday, saying: "For the record, IRN-BRU production is in full flow."

The new orange nectar is now flowing though pipes at the Cumbernauld and Milton Keynes plants.

(Image: The Daily Record)

The change in recipe has come about because of the new 'Sugar Tax' levied on fizzy drinks.

Back in 2016, George Osborne announced two tax bands on sugary drinks.

One for total sugar content above 5g per 100 millilitres and a second, higher band for the most sugary drinks, including Irn-Bru, with more than 8g per 100 millilitres.

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Estimates suggest that this will bring £520m to the treasury's coffers.

Facing an obesity crisis, the move is designed to help the health of children in particular.

On average, children and teenagers are consuming three times the amount of sugar than the daily reccommendation.

The UK is not the first country to introduce a Sugar Tax.

Mexico brought in a 10 per cent tax on fizzy drinks in 2014 and sales dropped by 12 per cent in the following year.

In Hungary, a similar levy meant that drinks companies dropped the sugar content of their drinks by 40 per cent.