TWO Dogs, the young Australian alcopop drinks group, has been bought by Pernod Ricard, the French drinks producer. Pernod Ricard is the parent company of Irish Distillers.

Two Dogs invented the eponymous alcoholic lemon drink which started the international craze for alcopops, the alcoholic fruit beverages popular with the young.

The drink was created by Mr Duncan MacGillivray, an Adelaide publican, who owns 70 per cent of Two Dogs' equity. He said yesterday he had been seeking a partner with financial resources and brand skills for some time.

Pernod said the Two Dogs brand appealed to it because it had achieved rapid international success, particularly in Europe but also more recently in the US and Asia. A product attractive to a young market was "completely complementary" with the group's other activities. It said it would not, however, make it a priority to launch the brand in France.

Pernod's products include the aperitif of the same name and Irish Distillers brands such as Jameson and Paddy, and the soft drink Orangina as well as its eponymous Pernod and Ricard pastis drinks.

No price was given but Two Dogs' annual turnover is believed to be about A$150 million (£80 million). The deal is subject to formal approval by Two Dogs three dozen shareholders and Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

Two Dogs was devised three years ago, and is reported to come from a recipe belonging to the mother of Mr MacGillavray's business partner, Mr David Pahl. Initially, the duo used windfall fruit from a local orchard and sold the spiced up lemonade through the Bull and Bear Ale House, Mr MacGillivray's pub.