Tesco/Quinnsworth yesterday announced it will no longer stock alcopops as a result of complaints from consumers that they encourage under-age drinking.

Six brands of alcopops will be removed from the shelves of the company's 75 off-licences throughout the State, located in Quinnsworth, Crazy Prices and Bloomfield stores.

"There has been a lot of customer concern in recent times that these are a bad influence, particularly on teenagers," said a spokesman for the company. "The recent publicity alerted a lot of people's attention, and concern was expressed throughout the country."

United Beverages, manufacturer and distributor of Woody's alcoholic fruit drinks, said last night that the impact on sales of the Tesco/Quinnsworth move would be "fairly marginal".

Mr Phil Smith, the company's marketing director, said the decision would have been "very painful" if the trade here was similar to Britain, where 42 per cent of alcopops are sold in off-licences. "Less than 5 per cent of the overall trade in Ireland is going through off-licences," he said.