Business Notes PACKAGING

Unlike Coca-Cola, which should have known better than to mess with its basic product, the Adolph Coors brewery fiddled only with its packaging. But even that has been enough to shake up some loyal drinkers of its flagship brand, Coors Banquet Beer.

The brewery made the change partly in response to the success of the new Miller Genuine Draft, which is touted as better tasting than conventional, heat-pasteurized beer. Since Coors has been selling draft since 1959, the brewery decided to scrap its pale yellow can last summer in favor of an almond-colored one bearing the name Original Draft.

The new label prompted hundreds of complaints, some from drinkers who believed Coors had tampered with the recipe as well. Now the brewery has revived the old label for two of its strongholds: Southern California and west Texas. Said a spokesman: "They wanted it back."