Revellers are lining up to try out a drink brewed from the same plant as cocaine.

Distributors say Agwa is legal because any illicit substances have been removed.

However, drinkers have discovered the liquid produces an "organic oxygen rush" if taken with a segment of lime.

Bars throughout Brighton and Hove are doing a roaring trade in the drinks known as superchargers.

Agwa manufacturers are now hoping its success in the city will help them crack the UK market.

But scientists on both sides of the Atlantic are investigating the effects of the "secondary alkaloids" released and drinkers are being limited to three superchargers at a time.

The drink is brewed in Holland from South American coca leaves.

John Davies, co-founder of Babco, which produces Agwa, said: "We originally launched it in Brighton and Hove three years ago.

"Just before Christmas we were contacted by some Canadians who had been to South America where they had chewed coca leaves and been given a buzz.

"We didn't understand that to get the full effect, you have to change the pH of your mouth first by making it amazingly alkaline or amazingly acidic.

"In South America, they first chew a bit of lime or something acidic and this activates the secondary alkaloids. This gives an organic oxygen rush."

Mr Davies said the coca plantations were carefully regulated in Bolivia and Colombia and all traces of cocaine had been removed in Dutch labs.

Agwa, which is 30 per cent proof alcohol, is banned in five countries but the drink has been approved under strict UK regulations.

However, because of the on-going nature of testing, Babco was ordered to shut down its web site.

Fliers for Agwa in Brighton warn an official report may ban or restrict superchargers.

Jon Wheatley, Agwa marketing manager, said: "The lime acts as a catalyst.

"I've heard it blows people's heads off but, personally, I've found having a few just makes people more chatty.

"Brighton and Hove is the first place we've tried it since we discovered the super-oxygenating effect.

"It has become a trendy thing to do particularly in groups. It's not the sort of drink you'd have alone."

Pubs in the Pleisure chain, including The Office in Sydney Street and Hector's House in Grand Parade, have been testing the supercharger concoction.

Alec Swinburn, area manager of Pleisure, said: "Big brewers and small distributors come to us because Brighton is a really good test market.

"If it works here, it should work elsewhere."