Bauer Publications is nixing its latest project, Cocktail Weekly it said yesterday, two months before the magazine targeting women in their 20s was scheduled to debut.

Cocktail Weekly was to have hit newsstands on Sept. 25.

Bauer also has had trouble pushing the circulation of another weekly, Life & Style, and two weeks ago cut seven editorial staffers.

Sources said Bauer was having trouble lining up the rack space in supermarkets and convenience stores that are needed to make a successful run.

Unlike many U.S. magazine publishers that make the bulk of their money from advertising revenue, Bauer makes its dough by selling high-priced newsstand copies.

A spokeswoman confirmed the company had abandoned the launch.

Keith J. Kelly