IRN-BRU maker AG Barr has warned profits will collapse this year due to poor weather – particularly in its native Scotland – and customers turning away from its reduced-sugar drinks ranges.

Bosses warned that sales will drop 10 per cent and profits will be down by up to 20per cent as they struggle against a strong year in 2018.

The news sent shares plummeting – down 26 per cent to 645p in early trading yesterday as investors and analysts reacted with surprise.

READ MORE: Irn-Bru profits to collapse as customers turn away from reduced-sugar ranges

Since the new sugar-tax was put in place, many have complained about the taste of the ‘new’ Irn Bru recipe. We took to Glasgow’s George Square to find out what the public really thought about the taste of Irn Bru:

Manuela Giesel, 33, is on holiday from Germany and was trying Irn Bru for the first time today. “It tastes a bit sweet, like...bubblegum”.

For Chris Hunt, 26 from Shawlands, the taste of Irn Bru depends on what he was doing the night before.

“I actually don’t notice a difference at all. I prefer Irn Bru extra anyway so I’d say that’s why I don’t notice a difference in the taste. It depends if I’m hungover or not.”

Alicia Kelly, 23, and also from Shawlands, notices a difference but isn’t bothered by it.

“It’s similar, but it’s just not as good as it used to be.”

For the sugar-free drinkers amongst us, there is very little change at all. Georgia Jenkins, bottom, 21-year-old from Muirhead, is a self-confessed ‘Dieter’, opting for the sugar-free version: “I actually love Irn Bru, I’m addicted to it. It’s my go to drink. I’ve always been a Diet Irn Bru gal – a ‘dieter’. I don’t think the recipe has changed that that much – I genuinely don’t know if the full fat tastes different, because I never go for that one.”

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There are also those among us who are enraged by the changed recipe.

Callum Crawford, 25 from East Kilbride, said: “I can taste the difference, it’s not as sweet, but I still enjoy it. You can tell the sugar content isn’t what it was.

“I have had a couple of cans of Irn Bru Extra before and it’s not the worse but I would just much rather drink normal Irn Bru.”

Alix Manning, 22 from Tollcross, feels ‘personally offended’ by the change in taste:

“I don’t like Irn Bru extra and I do taste a difference in the new recipe – it tastes more like Sugar-Free. I think I’m just stubborn but I feel personally offended by it.”