Coca-Cola for the first time has deviated from its popular soda drinks to launch a lemon flavoured alcopop, a spirits-based beverage that is mixed with fruit juices in Japan.

The beverage giant announced in March it would start making the drinks in Japan as it tries to tap into new markets and consumers.

Three lemon-based variants of the new drink went on sale on Monday. The company is targeting young drinkers, especially women.

The three drinks alcohol level range from 3% to 8%.

Chu-Hi drinks as they are called have become very popular in Japan with local companies such as Suntory, Asahi and Kirin currently dominating the sector.

However, Coca-Cola says there are no plans to sell the drinks outside of Japan.