CAN’T get enough of that wonderful Duff?

Then you’ve got a problem, because Homer Simpson’s favourite frothy has been pulled from the shelves in Australian bottle shops.

Woolworths, through its Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores, began stocking a replica of the famous cartoon brew in May.

But the retailer was forced to can the cans this week after Duff Beer was found to be in breach of the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code.

While the liquor outlets must pull the product from shelves, they are allowed to sell the stock they currently hold. So beer fans may be able to grab one last can in the next day or two.

“The association of The Simpsons with the product name and packaging is so strongly entrenched in Australian popular culture that the name and packaging will draw the attention of under 18 year olds,” the ABAC panel decided.

media_camera Duff Beer’s strong association with The Simpsons draws the attention of those under 18, ABAC argued.

“Measures to market the product without references to The Simpsons characters or images cannot be effective to overcome the strong and evident appeal of the product material to underage persons.”

Homer’s treasured tipple came in cans and was being sold for $45 a slab.

Brewer Lion Nathan also produced their own Duff Beer in the 1990s but that ended when Twentieth Century Fox, which broadcasts The Simpsons, won a Federal Court battle over the brand’s trademark.

Alcohol Policy Coalition spokeswoman Sondra Davoren hailed the ABAC panel decision, saying Woolworths disregarded marketing standards and the product never should have hit the shelves.

“Through its creation and subsequent promotion in The Simpsons, there is no doubt that Duff Beer is going to be attractive to children and young people,” she said.

“Research shows a correlation between the age of a person’s first drink and the development of harmful drinking patterns later in life.”

“That is why it is really important that alcohol producers are not allowed to target kids.”

A Woolworth Liquor Group spokeswoman said the ABAC panel had accepted the retail chain was “committed to the standards of good alcohol beverage marketing”.

“We respect the panel’s adjudication and will discontinue the stock,” the spokeswoman said.

Ms Davoren said the Alcohol Policy Coalition wanted the State Government to restrict how, where and when children were exposed to alcohol advertising, which she said was supported by 77 per cent of Victorians.

tom.minear@news.com.au