26 drinks trends you need to know in 2026

Every year we pull together the biggest trends driving the drinks industry’s growth. In 2026, there is plenty to choose from to refresh your chillers and shelves, including functional refreshment, nostalgic flavours, new no/low options and so much more.

Read on to discover more of the need-to-know products you should be stocking in 2026. And why not grab a copy of Drinks Buyer 2026 for even more information on the trends and brands reshaping this sector.

1. Low and no alcohol drinks

The demographic for alcohol-free or low-alcohol beers, spirits and cocktails is vast, ranging from Gen Z (who are tending to drink less than the generations before them), to Millennials, who are alternating between alcohol and alcohol-free, and those who more generally are cutting back to improve their lifestyle. 

The low and no market even outperforms against most traditional alcohol categories. Have you noticed the sector has its own vernacular now? ‘Book ending’ is starting and finishing your evening with a non-alcoholic beverage, while ‘zebra striping’ involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. 

When it comes to what to stock, we like Botivo, an intensely refreshing non-alcoholic aperitivo with a bittersweet backbone, herbal notes and a tang of citrus. Pentire Drinks’ tasty tinned margarita mocktail contains coastal botanicals, agave, lime, chilli and sea salt. Khoki United’s award-winning Tarongino Orange Wine is designed for mindful drinkers seeking natural, traceable refreshment.

Djin’s Nature Passion (a non-alcoholic, sugar-free, gluten-free gin) is the most titled non-alcoholic gin alternative in the world and worth checking out. As is Clausthaler’s Dry Hopper beer – recognised amongst experts as one of the best in the category. 

And Sandford Orchards’ Red Zero cider has been voted the best alcohol-free cider, crafted traditionally, using British cider apples. 

2. Mid-strength drinks

Yes, a whole new category is being carved out in the drinks industry, with demand rising for mid-strength beer (around 3% to 3.8% ABV, or even lower), mid-strength wine (3% to 9.5% ABV) and mid-strength spirits (20% to 30% ABV). A new wave of products is hitting the scene, with Laura Willoughby, founder of low and no alcohol specialist retailer and bar operator Club Soda telling Drinks Buyer, “Ultimately, moderation does not have to be a binary choice between drinking and not drinking.”

The movement towards lower-ABV drinks is gaining strength, so why not try adding a few to your shelves? You could try Brisk Lager, which boasts half the calories of standard beer and 3.3% ABV; Session Spirits for G&Ts that are the same strength as a typical beer, or 6% Wine made from high-quality grapes grown in Bordeaux.

3. Low calorie and low sugar drinks

Another area of interest among health-conscious consumers is low-calorie and low-sugar products, affected by both HFSS regulations, and a switch in consumer perceptions. The ongoing conversation around UPFs means they’re seeking out more natural options in this space, rather than those with chemical additives. 

We recommend Pip Organic’s Apple Cherry Fizz, a family-friendly soda that’s made without sugar or additives and filled with organic apple, cherry and grape juice; Pure Kaktai’s Organic Natural Cactus Water in Lime & Ginger, which is an all-natural and organic prickly pear juice packed with electrolytes; and Chill Spritz Balance Drink’s Dark Peach, which has lush peach notes and a soft, rounded finish. It’s not only zero alcohol, but also zero sugar and calorie.

4. Functional drinks

Functionality is seen as perhaps the biggest category for growth in health drinks right now. ‘Clean’ energy in the form of green tea-extracted L-Theanine, added B12 and coffee; added protein and collagen; functional mushrooms; gut-friendly bacteria, and female hormone health supporting ingredients such as ashwagandha and magnesium are all causing a buzz that savvy retailers shouldn’t ignore. 

Consumers want more from their food and drink this year, and brands across categories are constantly seeking out ways to appeal to their desire for products with added function. 

Topping the functional drink charts are those infused with nootropics (such as mushrooms) which aid both relaxation and focus, CBD (for inflammation and wellbeing), and minerals and adaptogens for enhanced hormone health, such as magnesium and ashwagandha.

We like VitClear’s Brain Health Nootropic Soda, which blends real fruit juice with natural additions to support clarity, focus and mental performance and Brite Pineapple and Mango, a no-sugar-added energy drink with green tea, green coffee, matcha and guarana extracts.

We’d also recommend Muush’s Blood Orange & Ginger (a non-alcoholic mixer combining functional mushrooms with a punch of fruity flavour and no added sugar), Unconform’s Flat White for the Mind (a functional cold brew oat latte), Three Spirits’ calming Nightcap elixir, Quirky Monkey’s Reishi Mushroom Coffee Infusion, Punchy Drinks’ Blueberry Hydration Drink, Grass & Co’s Liquid Relax (with reishi, ashwagandha, magnesium and Vitamin B6), and Kin Euphorics’ Kin Spritz.

5. Craft soda

The move towards moderation (or skipping alcohol entirely) has inspired a great deal of innovation in the soft drinks industry, particularly around craft sodas. And consumers are lapping them up, keen to explore a new world of flavour combinations and formats, from fancy iced tea, to reimaginings of childhood classics. 

Many of the top sellers are erring towards the low-cal market, such as Riviera’s Peach Iced Tea – a new, all-natural, vegan, non-carbonated drink inspired by the Med. 

We also like Sipp’d Straight Up Lemonade, which uses real citrus juice to give a zippy, fresh, bright flavour, Luscombe Drinks’ sunshiney Sicilian Citrus Crush, made with Sicilian lemons and oranges grown near Mount Etna, The London Essence Co’s Aromatic Orange & Fig Crafted Soda (interesting enough to drink on its own), Soda Folk’s creamy, dreamy Cream Soda, packed with real Madagascan vanilla, and Jolly’s Pink Lemonade, crafted in the West Country with Cornish spring water, mint and strawberries. 

Modern takes on ‘posh pop’ include Rapsacallion Soda (their Cranachan is pudding in a can), and Idyll, which favours using wild and natural British fruits and botanicals in its blends.

6. Health shots

Whether at the gym, on the school run, or at the office, consumers can’t get enough of health shots, as a nifty, quick way to dose up on key nutrients. Ginger and turmeric are the ingredients to watch in this category. 

Flawsome!’s shots are truly tasty with added vitamins or calcium and come in a range of flavours, from Turmeric to Ginger, and Cherry Immunity to Strawberry Gut Health. 

MOJU’s Fresh Root Ginger Shots also hit the market bang on the money, being made with 20% Peruvian ginger, apple, acerola cherry and lemon, Plenish’s Beet Balance delivers 100% of your daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6, and Jinger’s Pineapple & Ginger Shot is zippy and refreshing.

7. Natural energy

Sugar-laden drinks pumped with artificial colourings are out (even with the traditional younger target consumer) and are being replaced by ‘clean’ options that offer a natural boost from plant extracts. 

PurchargeEnergy Water’s nootropic energy water offers clean energy from natural green coffee, paired with L-theanine and a whole host of other functional ingredients in a refreshing apple and kiwi flavour.

Virtue Drinks’ Clean Energy gives a boost with natural yerba mate and green tea extracts and added B vitamins. We like Brite’s Lemon Lime drink, which is sugar free, and packed with green tea, green coffee bean extract, organic ceremonial grade matcha and guarana. And Gusto Organic’s Kola is a 100% natural energy drink with kola nut, guarana and 14 botanicals.

Or for the gym sharks, Bol’s Power Shake offers and nutritionally complete meal in a bottle, high in energy, protein and fibre.

8. Iced teas and coffees

Many Brits won’t turn down a hot cup of tea even in the height of summer, but iced teas are beginning to make waves on this side of the pond. And there’s more and more options for retailers to choose from. We like HumaniTea’s on-trend Matcha Latte Oat Drink and Yorkshire Tea’s Lemon flavoured ice tea, made with all-natural flavourings and low in calories.

Iced coffees, meanwhile, are already a staple on the market today. A real winner is Lost Sheep Coffee’s Iced Latte, a blend of speciality coffee and milk that is satisfying and guilt free.

As for cold brews, try Dot Dot Cold Brew Americano Bubble Coffee, the UK’s first bubble coffee in an eco-friendly glass bottle made with cold brew espresso; Nolo Cold Brew’s Latte in Caramel Swirl, a ready-to-drink decaf with added prebiotic plant fibre; or for something a bit fruitier why not Kaytea Cold Brew Iced Tea in Blackcurrant Grape.

9. Flavoured water

HFSS regulations have perhaps impacted the soft drinks market most, inspiring a new generation of brands to formulate products that are either low in or free from sugar. One of the most exciting areas of growth is flavoured water. Often containing zero calories, they’ve got mass appeal – particularly amongst parents wanting to limit the amount of sugar their children consume. 

Try EauYES Sour Apple, the first flavoured sparkling mineral water in the UK in a fun, tangy sour apple flavour. Water kefir is another avenue to explore. As a raw, living fermented drink made with water, organic sugar and friendly bacteria, it hits the mark for health trends, too. PiQi Life’s Butterfly Pea water kefir is packed with probiotics, vitamins and enzymes.

Cans Cherry uses pure water from the Alps and real fruit juice, with no added sugar, sweeteners or anything artificial. Dash Water marries filtered spring water with natural flavourings from ‘wonky’ fruit that would otherwise go to waste. And Marlish is canned at source in Northumberland, blending slowly filtered spring water with natural flavours, such as Sicilian lemon extract, coming in at less than 4 calories per can. 

10. Juice

Juice is not to be sniffed at for the modern consumer – and by pairing it with another trend you can really see your sales fly. Think low-sugar options, nostalgic flavours or still alternatives to today’s ‘posh pops’.

We love McAlister’s Still Apple Juice, which is sweet and sharp and made in the County Armagh countryside, and Folkington’s highly aromatic Pressed Peach Juice, made with delicious ripe Spanish peaches.

For something a bit different, Drink Wild offers a premium, still, non-alcoholic Wild Berry Brew, made by slow brewing berries with fruits, herbs and spices. It’s 100% nautral and designed for the modern soft drink consumer.

Don’t forget vegetable juices, too. Biona Organic’s Organic Vegetable Pressed Juice blends pressed tomatoes, carrots, beetroot, lemons and cucumbers just after picking to help them retain their flavour and nutrients.

11. Kombucha

Kombucha’s appeal as a gut-friendly, low-sugar drink has moved out of the health food sector and firmly into the mainstream in the last two years. Investment across the category has made this a competitive space, with something for every kombucha drinker – from the newbie who wants to try a gentler product, to those moderating their alcohol consumption, and die-hard fans craving kombucha at the more tart, piquant end of the scale. 

We like Pop Cultures’ Apple & Cardamom Jun Kombucha, crafted with fresh apple juice and warm notes of cardamom and honey and Suma’s Cola Kombucha, craft brewed using green tea and bursting with kombucha cultures.

We also enjoy the gentle taste of Oichi’s White Grape, Verbena and Citrus version, which is wonderful for celebrations. 

12. Gut-friendly

Everyone is obsessed with their guts right now thanks to the work of Tim Spector and other leading scientists, who’ve shown that everything from our weight to our mental wellbeing is impacted by the balance of bacteria and viruses which live in our tummies. 

There is still much, much more to learn, but in the meantime, the message is clear: to improve health we should be eating more fibre, and introducing more varieties of plant foods to our diets. 

The drinks sector has responded, with an ever-growing collection of fibre-added and gut-supportive products coming to market. 

Unrooted’s Super Greens Lemon and Baobab Shot packs in 4.2g of fibre per serving. Willy’s Apple Switchel is one we like in this space, as is the entire Fhirst range (especially Cherry Vanilla) which really deliver on flavour, while containing no added sugar, and 2 billion stable living probiotic cultures alongside 5g of prebiotic fibre. Dalston’s has a gut-friendly range too now – Happy Gut, filled with 3g of dietary fibre, zinc, magnesium and calcium. 

We’re also fans of Happy Inside, whose drinks with prebiotic fibre, are non-sparkling and sugar free.

13. Matcha

Sales of matcha have grown dramatically in recent years, making this green tea the ‘it’ drink of the moment. It’s a must-stock for today’s cafes and retailers. If you want to buy the best, go for ceremonial grade, which is crafted from the young, most delicious cream of the crop. 

We like Blendsmiths’ Wakaba Ceremonial Matcha, which is versatile with sweet, nutty notes, a subtle umami finish and balanced tannins.

Matcha and Beyond’s Chai Matcha also taps into what consumers want right now in a home and coffee shop serve, bringing together the finest matcha from tea fields in Kagoshima, Japan, with warming spices from India and Sri Lanka in a sugar-free blend. OMGTea’s Organic Matcha Grade AAA is super premium with a sweet, umami taste. And Grind has just launched its own at-home matcha tea, following the hugely successful launch last year of its RTD matcha lattes. 

14. Gourmet cordials

We love a cordial in the UK. Richer, spicier flavours will be warmed on the stove to take off the winter chill. While bright, fresh varieties can be showcased in myriad ways. Stirred in still or sparkling water. As a fanciful finish to a glass of bubbly. Or even drizzled liberally over puddings and fresh fruit. Consumers are loving either nostalgic, traditional, botanical tastes, or a hint of the tropics right now. 

Belvoir’s Elderflower & Rose Cordial is a good bet for summer, mixing beautifully into still or sparkling water, or even in sparkling wine as an aperitif. 

Mr Fitzpatrick’s vintage cordials date back to 1899, but in modern times the brand stays true to its roots, continuing to botanically brew 32 multi-award-winning unique blends in the heart of the Rossendale Valley.

And Bristol Syrup Company is doing loads of cool things with cordials, including mixing up Disco Grenadine – a fruitilicious syrup made with raspberry and sweet pomegranate with myriad uses. 

15. Botanicals

Wonderfully wild flavours, from herbs and spices to floral infusions, are striking a chord with consumers, who love the uniqueness they bring to the glass. 

Multi award-winning Botivo is gaining rapid traction in this space with its non-alcoholic aperitivo, infused with rosemary, wormwood, orange zest, gentian and thyme. 

We can’t get enough of Teto’s sparkling cold brew tea, elevated with Citra hops and botanicals to create a layered, sophisticated taste. Pomello’s luscious Elderflower & Grapefruit Aperitif and LA Brewery’s Sparkling White Rose kombucha, enhanced with white rose petals and elderflower, are other firm favourites. 

Another brand we’re enjoying at the moment is Foreva Farmers, whose Elderflower & Honey Tonic Water is subtly sweet and utterly refreshing, made with real elderflower and local honey on the brand’s Herefordshire farm. 

16. Honey

Did you know the mead market is expected to reach a value of nearly £1.4bn by 2032? Honey has been fermented into drinks as far back as 9,000 BC, across ancient civilisations in Asia, Europe and Africa. Called the ‘nectar of the Gods’ in Greek mythology, at its heart mead is honey and water fermented with yeast. Consumers are enjoying its low alcohol content and natural, clean ingredients deck. 

Europe is the home of this growing sector, and Britain has plenty of exciting makers to watch, like Hive Mind, whose Mead Honeyade is made in Wales and champions UK beekeepers. Horns of Odin’s Traditional Honey Mead is made with only three ingredients: yeast, water from beneath Cheddar Gorge and honey from a third-generation beekeeper. 

Elsewhere, honey is in demand as a sweetening stand-in for refined sugar, and you can find it in everything from juices and kombuchas to alcoholic beverages.

Try Beesou’s Bitter Honey Aperitif, an all-natural spirit that’s ideal for mixing; Bemuse Fiora in Wild Raspberry, a non-alcoholic wine made by fermenting English meadow honey, and flavoured with real raspberries and rose; or Lyme Bay Winery Mead’s low-alcohol raspberry lemonade sparkling mead, which gives the maker’s traditional drink a new twist.

17. Milk

Did you know full fat is in fashion today? According to the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board, sales of semi-skimmed and skimmed milk declined last year, while whole milk sales increased by 3% as more consumers reach for full-fat dairy.

Flavoured milk also continues to deliver growth for brands. Delamere’s established glass bottle range is popular with consumers and has seven flavours. We rate the Strawberry, which contains all the goodness of milk with a hearty punch of nostalgia.

Unhomogenised milk is an exciting avenue to explore too, such as The Estate Dairy’s Unhomogenised Organic Whole Milk, which is rich, smooth, silky milk sourced from cows the graze the Chew Valley in Somerset.

Or why not try Tom Parker Creamery’s Bedtime Milk, which is tapping into the bedtime wellness trend, blending free-range milk with added botanicals known for their calming qualities.

And don’t sleep on kefir, which has a growing global market. The Dorset Dairy Co’s original kefir is thick, creamy and drinkable, combining unhomogenised milk, live kefir and yoghurt cultures.

18. Spiced and botanical rum

Rum (especially spiced rum) is hitting the spot as producers pay more attention to expressing and marketing the botanicals and spices they use, following in the footsteps of the craft gin industry. 

Some cracking varieties are coming out of the UK at the moment. Diablesse’s Clementine Spiced Rum is a female-led brand redefining th category with its botanical infusions. Double distilled in the UK, it has flavours of clementine, ginger, clove and vanilla.

Exeter’s Two Drifters Rum is carbon negative, aged in French oak and ex-Madeira casks, with gentle notes of orange peel and muscovado. Rum Bothy’s Spiced Bothy Rum combined distilled and cask-aged rums with hand-picked Strathmore Valley saffron, orange and mixed spice. And Mapmakers Rum from Dunnet Bay Distillers is distilled twice in bespoke copper pot stills, blending the brand’s house rum with Caribbean rum, Loch Calder water, and Scottish botanicals – from scurvy grass and sea kelp, to lemon verbena. 

19. Canned cocktails and wine

This category shows no signs of slowing down. Those who didn’t turn their summerhouse or shed into a pub in the summer of 2020 are more than happy to reach for pre-mixed bottled and canned cocktails, drawn in by those that are bar-strength, made with premium spirits, and (of course) arrive in pretty packaging they’re keen to show off at home, at the races, picnics and parties. 

Try Whitebox’s Mai Tai, made with aged rum, orgeat, orange curacao and lime. MOTH Drinks’ Paloma is bang on trend, mingling the zesty juiciness of grapefruit with top drawer tequila.

The varieties from Niche Cocktails offer a sophisticated serve, in elegant packaging that pops. We like the brand’s award-winning full strength Negroni, made using Adnams’ Copper House Gin. 

Angels Dare is one to watch as well. Their mixes are very exciting and unlike anything else on the market. Take Secret Orchard as an example – gin, peach, elderflower, apple and lemon. 

And make sure you have a few no/low options in your range. Brink’s non-alcoholic margarita is herbal, citrussy and balanced with a gentle sweetness from Madagascan vanilla.

The reputation of canned wine is growing too as brands up the ante. Loco Wines’ Session Fizz is an organic, sparkline wine with bright citrus and delicate elderflower notes

20. Gin

Gin, of course, retains its core audience, who are always looking for the ‘next big thing’ to add to their home collection. Though sales, many in the industry feel, have plateaued, there’s certainly still interest amongst avid gin fans. But what they want has changed. They’re not after cheap, novelty varieties that simply look good on the shelf, they’re choosing brands with sustainable claims, brands that put flavour first, and have a sense of premiumisation. 

Key popular botanicals to note include lemon, orange, bergamot, coriander, cardamom, rosemary, lavender and chamomile. 

We can’t get enough of Loveday’s Golden Hour Gin, crafted sustainably by an all-female Cornish team of distillers, it has notes of pink grapefruit, cardamom, pink peppercorn and rose. Helen Browning’s Organic Wildgrass Pear and Sea Buckthorn London Dry Gin is another bottle to add to your collection, inspired by the botanicals on Helen’s organic farm.

We also think Shed 1 Distillery’s Yiayia Gin, winner of a Great British Food Award, is one to watch. Inspired by the creator’s Greek heritage, it blossoms with an almost savoury, citrussy taste, being infused with seaweed, mushrooms, vine and fig leaves, lemon and rose pelargonium. 

And Eden Mill’s Love Gin is a beautiful spin on the usual raspberry-infused pink gins. Their version delivers strawberry, rhubarb, vanilla, citrus, rose water and a touch of green apple. 

21. Tequila – and other Mexican spirits

The appetite for Mexican drinks hasn’t wavered in recent years, with consumers continuing to spend more on tequila as they explore authentic Mexican cuisine at home. The UK tequila market is expected to reach $505.5m by 2030. Shoppers are looking beyond cheap supermarket brands and are genuinely interested in learning more not just about tequila, but mezcal and corn whisky too. 

Aged for a year in custom American oak barrels, and tripled filtered for purity and clarity, Tequila Enemigo’s Enemigo 89 is a smooth drop, with luscious vanilla and coconut flavours. 

Ojo de Tigre’s crystal clear 100% artisanal mezcal strikes a chord with a profile of fresh herbs, caramel and dried fruit. 

Or go for shelf appeal with something like Licor de Elote from Nixta – a sweet, buttery spirit distilled with maize grown near the Nevado de Toluca volcano, served up in a kitsch corn-shaped bottle. 

22. Quince

Quince is an underrated orchard fruit that is popping up in numerous drinks. We love Wilkin & Sons’ English Quince Liqueur, which is beautiful mixed with your fizz or even drizzled over puddings.

Elsewhere, Bush Barn Farm’s Elderflower & Quince Cordial is light, refreshing and delicate. 

23. Better quality mixers

Excellent spirits deserve to be paired with elevated tonics and mixers, and this is an arena that’s seen continued growth in the last two years. Modern mixers are being created with the moderating drinker in mind, so they combine with consumers’ favourite tipples, but can also be enjoyed alone, over ice. 

Shoppers are looking for brands bringing new flavours to the market, and for cans and bottles that inspire their next tipple, giving serving and pairing advice. 

Fitch & Leedes, for example, recommends stirring its subtle rose and cucumber-scented Pink Tonic with a light, floral gin, Double Dutch’s Pomegranate & Basil tonic brings warmth to a herbal gin or mezcal, and Navas’ Garden Tonic (with rosemary, thyme, pine and citrus) gives craft vodka a lift. We also love The London Essence Co’s distinctive grapefruit and rosemary tonic, which is gorgeous with gin.

24. Retro

Nostalgia is here to stay. Across the food and drink landscape consumers are reaching for flavours and formats that remind them of their childhood. Long summers in the park. School days. High days. Holidays. Packaging and branding hinting to yesteryear is proving a hit. 

What’s clear is no drinks cabinet is complete without a few blasts from the past, and shoppers are really favouring products that make them feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

Cawston Press’s Ginger Beer is sweetened with apple juice rather than sugar, and naturally flavoured with two types of ginger for complexity.

Fentiman’s Dandelion & Burdock also slots nicely into this theme, as does Mawson’s Sarsaparilla, made to a time-honoured recipe with natural ingredients including sarsaparilla, ginger and liquorice. 

The funky design of Karma Drinks’ classics, along with their clean, ethical ingredients makes them a winner – especially their Organic Karma Cola. 

While Breckland Orchard’s naturally flavoured cream soda with lashings of soft vanilla and a hint of rhubarb is a regular customer favourite for the brand, who’s customers adore its old-fashioned flavour. 

25. Cider

You can’t get away with having any old cider on your shelves when there are so many brilliant British brands you can be stocking. We like Pulp Craft’s Apple Cider, a classic, refreshing drink with a slightly dry finish, and Kicking Goat Elderflower & Mint Cider, a light, floral option ideal for elevating your summer BBQ.

For something a bit different, try iced cider: fruity, sweet and incredible with cheese, iced cider is produced by freezing apples or apple juice, intensifying the flavour before brewing. Best served super cold, as the name suggests. Try Burrow Hill Ice Cider, made with vintage cider apples for bittersweet sharpness, its flavour is enhanced and made honied using the ice method.

26. English sparkling wine

A modern British classic that shouldn’t be ignored. Continental winemakers are snapping up land in England’s wine growing regions as the quality of bubbly made on British turf continues to impress on the international stage. 

The mild climate of Southern, Western and Eastern parts of England, married with soil substrata similar to that in Northern France and Germany, and many decades of expertise, are a ‘triple threat’, with English sparkling wine makers enjoying the fruits of their labour as the awards flow in. Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the Crouch Valley in Essex are all areas to watch. 

Top bottles to look out for include Gusbourne Estate’s incomparable 2019 Rose (blush with the luxurious perfume of ripe berries), Winbirri Vineyard’s white peach, blossom and spice-filled Vintage Sparkling Reserve 2016, Flint Vineyard’s award-winning Charmat Rose, Nyetimber’s unforgettable Classic Cuvee, and Ashling Park Estate’s Sparkling Rose (with seductive aromas of summer fruits).