Exclusive: Turbo shandy gets an RTD twist

Turbo shandy - the mix of alcoholic lemonade and beer beloved by students and sports teams everywhere - is to be launched as an RTD.

A new company, Turbo Drinks, has been founded by Nigel Tarn, who has previously worked on the launches of Red Bull, Peroni and Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer.

Turbo Shandy will be its first launch, following a successful trial in Ibiza this summer and will be aimed at the late night market, high street bars and clubs.

It is a 4% ABV mix of bitter lager and lemonade infused with vodka and comes in 330ml bottles.

The low ABV and smaller bottle size were chosen to help the drink meet responsible drinking guidelines, said Tarn.

"On-trade consumers are very discerning and are looking for a new drink, which is shown by the fall in sales of traditional RTD products and the growth in alternative drinks," he added.

It is hoped Turbo Shandy will be followed with the launch of other new drinks in the new year.