BOOMING sales of so-called "alcopops" and Irish ale in Britain have ruled out any brewery closures, beer giant Bass said yesterday amid rumours after its recently announced merger with Carlsberg-Tetley.

Its £200 million sterling bid, which is currently being reviewed by the Office of Fair Trading, will give Bass 35 per cent of the British drinks market if approved. Sales of its newer brands, the alcoholic lemonade Hoopers Hooch and the "Irish" bitter Caffreys have rocketed.