Talk:Irn-Bru

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/Archive 1: Apr 2004 - Aug 2006

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[edit] Glass bottles - refundable

I have removed the fact that they are refundable, due to the fact that the 20p bottles are vanishing as and when shops take in new stock now (you may still find some around). If someone can clarify whether or not you can still receive a refund from the new bottles (unmarked as refundable, instead just "hand it back") then it can be reinstated. Nessymonster (talk) 12:05, 11 April 2008 (UTC)


Regarding the various names for glass bottles "Glaise Boattles" doesn't sound like a special name, it's just how people pronounce the words, the reference to linlithgow seems to be exceptionally pointless because of this. Fyndir (talk) 13:26, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Urban legend?

The formula for Irn-Bru is a closely guarded secret, known only by two of Barr's board members.- cheese lolz

This sounds like myth to me, as it almost exactly mirrors the age-old legend about Coca-Cola's formula. The only online sources I could find were other encyclopedia entries which themselves appear to be cribbed directly from Wikipedia. What's known of the Coca-Cola legend also suggests that hearing this statement directly from Barr wouldn't change its credibility; the most the article could state would be that Barr claims that the formula is secret.

[edit] Legend is true

According to the Irn Bru site [1] the "Legend" is true. Here's a screenshot from the site:Image:Irnbruxx.GIF

[edit] Huh?

"...or that it is more popular than Coca-Cola in Russia. This is untrue, it's far more prosperous in Asabajan."

That last bit is nonsense, but I can't work out what it should say. Someone with knowledge, please sort it out! 86.132.142.201 04:53, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

It should say nothing about it, because there's nothing to back the statement up? I will remove the reference to Azerbaijan - if it's true, someone who can cite evidence should add it again. James Montgomerie 06:56, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

It is available sporadically in Ireland[citation needed], Belgium and, as of 2005, in Poland. Why would one country need citation, not others ? This also duplicates a sentence at the top - merge & delete one ? I imagine all this info will be commercially sensitive & hard-to-find. Plus - wouldn't a link to an online source of the product get deleted as advertising ? I guess the person that put that is just disagreeing with the alleged fact ... dificult with 'sporadically' there !

[edit] Factual accuracy

This article states that "It has long been the most popular soft drink in Scotland, outselling even Coca-Cola, but recent fierce competition between the two brands has brought their sales to roughly equal levels (perhaps leaning to Coca-Cola) [1]. This success in defending its home market (a feat claimed only by Irn-Bru, South Australia's Farmers Union Iced Coffee, Peru's Inca Kola and Sweden's Julmust)" However, the milk article says "South Australia has the highest consumption of flavoured milk per person, where Farmers Union Iced Coffee outsells Coca-Cola, a success shared only by Inca Kola in Peru and Irn-Bru in Scotland.". Which is correct regarding Julmust? silsor 03:30, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Another fact i'd like to contest is the omission of Caffeine/Quinine in Canadian IRN-BRU, as i bought some in Montreal just today, and it most certainly states on the can "flavourings (including caffeine & Quinine)" under the ingredients list...

Maybe you bought an imported can rather than the local version ?

[edit] Ginger

The section on the term "ginger" doesn't appear to be correct. I've never heard anyone refer to ginger specifically as being Irn-Bru. I'm removing this claim. Chris Cunningham 12:40, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I lived in Glasgow for 10 months last year, working in cafes, and I did hear some people call Irn Bru "ginger". "Aye! Gimme a wee bod'l ah ginger will yah pal?!". Am I the only one? Mikeeg555 06:49, 15 December 2006 (UTC)


I stay in scotland and the word GINGER is used very often. It has nothing to do with the colour.Its just another name for fizzy drinks "Get me a can of ginger" but also meaning coca cola, pepsi, sprite etc.

I lived in Glasgow too, and used to wonder whether "ginger" meant Irn Bru. It seemed to be much more popular there than in Edinburgh. As a piece of "original research" I asked in a shop for "a bottle of ginger," and got the reply, "What kind of ginger?" NRPanikker 02:53, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

"Ginger" is only used in the south of Scotland, we would never say that up north, unless talking about Ginger Ale - in which case we would probably say "Ginger Ale" Nessymonster (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 12:00, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

It's actually more of a West Coast, specifically Glaswegian, term. I'm East Coast (Perth) and no one here uses the term ginger.Grievous Angel (talk) 16:37, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Iron content

The article currently claims the post-war legislation insisting on 0.125g of iron per fluid ounce to keep the name "iron brew" - this seems like an alarmingly large percentage - about 0.44%. Can someone have a look at this please, especially as the drink apparently contains 0.002% of ammonium ferric citrate? Ringbark 00:11, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

Does it not seem unlikely that a legilative requirement would insist on grammes per fluid ounce? Mixed units.86.26.241.109 (talk) 21:27, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

I stay in scotland and the word GINGER is used very often. It has nothing to do with the colour. "Get me a can of ginger" but also meaning coca cola, pepsi, sprite etc. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.97.22.70 (talk) 19:16, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Irn Bru Bars

Do these actually still exist? Every online vintage sweet shop I have vistited is out of stock, and most of these pages point to WHAM brew bars. If they are not longer produced, I feel change to the section regarding them should be changed to reflect this. If they are still available somewhere, contact me asap! Elkrobber 19:48, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

They are still available but very hard to come by. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.15.241.98 (talk • contribs).

I think they are still about, could have sworn I saw some the other day. I'll have another look about in a few days and reply if I see any or not. Tartan 16:46, 24 February 2007 (UTC)
Yeah, they are still available, we have them in our local shopNessymonster (talk) 12:02, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] pronunciation?

The pronunciation given on the article, with the stress on "Irn" instead of "Bru" is a distinctly English pronunciation. Scottish people stress "Bru"; in fact I find it very difficult to pronounce it with stress on "Irn". I don't think this is accurate for a drink that originated and is drunk in Scotland and this is why I am changing it now. Finlay (talk) 22:24, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Marketing

I live furth of Scotland now, and don't recall seeing any of the clever advertisements described on the main page. However, I was subjected to the Sandy and Ba Bru commercials often enough to still remember the words of the jingle:

"I am very thirsty" - alto rendition by Scottish boy (Sandy) in full highland dress

"Ah'm thirsty too" - basso profundo by stereotypical African boy (Ba Bru)

"Here's the drink that's made for you" - adult voices?

"Barr's Irn Bru." - everyone.

The racial portrayals must have offended some people and led to the demise of the series. I never saw how they would make anyone buy Irn Bru, unless the sheer frequency of repetition was meant to make sight of a ginger bottle trigger a replay of the jingle. NRPanikker 23:45, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Irn-bru Xs

Does anyone have any information on this product?. . Irn Bru xs, an isotonic sports drink that was avaliable a few years ago.

[edit] Irn Bru Xs?

. . . ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.209.6.40 (talk) 17:03, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Package

Here in Russia Irn Bru is also available in 600ml plastic bottle (instead of 500ml), but I'm not sure whether I have to edit the page or something... 77.51.0.24 (talk) 14:40, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 16.9 ounce plastic bottle

16.9USFlOZ is 500ml. Since the 500ml bottle is already listed, and the list rightfully contains no other imperial values, I see no need for this being on the list twice. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.111.162.127 (talk) 14:25, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Irn-Bru vs Coca Cola

Is there some sort of competition with the two companies (Barr and Coca-Cola)? LOTRrules (talk) 18:26, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

Of course... as there is competition between any two companies who make similar products. Nessymonster (talk) 12:03, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Link 16 (Herald)

Seems to not work for me as the Herald website has taken down the linked page about Irn-Bru 32.Dead link. 87.80.198.189 (talk) 20:06, 10 May 2008 (UTC)