Hard Solo will be renamed after soft drinks company was bombarded with complaints over alcoholic brand - here's what it will be called now

Alcoholic soft drink Hard Solo will be renamed to Hard Rated following a slew of complaints against the manufacturer.

Carlton & United Breweries said on Thursday the ready-to-drink alcoholic lemon beverage would undergo a re-branding after a decision by the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme (ABAC). 

The brewery said they had pre-vetted the name with ABAC and it was considered appropriate but they have since changed their decision and ruled it breached the code as it had 'strong or evident appeal to minors'.

One of the complaints ABAC received said the drink looks like the soft drink Solo which is 'consumed by minors'.

'It's hard to think why they would think that this is OK in 2023,' the complaint said.

It also noted that the name 'sounds a bit like Han Solo, which is a Star Wars character'. 

A Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) spokesperson said the company was disappointed by the decision but respected the work of ABAC in regulating alcohol marketing. 

The spokesperson said: 'As we comply with the ABAC decision and the Hard Solo brand exits the market, we'd like to assure the many Australian adults who have loved Hard Solo that the taste won't change when the name changes to Hard Rated.'

'Consistent with ABAC rules, CUB will ensure the last Hard Solo can packaging will exit our supply network by no later than 9 February 2024.'

The brewer added that Hard Solo tap decals in pubs and clubs will also have transitioned to Hard Rated by that date.