The world of beverages is changing fast. Some trends are here to stay, while new movements are reshaping what guests expect when they order a drink. At the centre of it all are declining alcohol consumption, a stronger focus on wellbeing, and a desire for simple yet indulgent experiences.
In 2026, functionality, low and no alcohol, sustainability and small everyday moments will be essential ingredients of a successful drinks offer. In this article, we highlight five key drink trends for 2026 and show how our beverage solutions help HoReCa professionals serve modern experiences in a way that is both easy and profitable.
1. Wellbeing First: Functional Drinks as a Core Part of the Menu
More and more guests are no longer choosing a drink based on taste alone, they are also asking what it does for them. Drinks are expected to support overall wellbeing: energy and focus, immunity, recovery, relaxation or balance. That is why functional drinks, beverages with a clear ‘purpose’, are becoming an increasingly prominent part of drinks menus. Electrolytes, vitamins and natural ‘super’ ingredients such as ginger and turmeric are being paired with fresh fruit and citrus flavours, from breakfast service right through to the evening drinks list.
With this in mind, we launched our Organic Ginger Shot. It works just as well as a morning pick-me-up on a hotel breakfast buffet, a wellness drink at lunch, or as a flavour boost in mocktails. As an organic product with carefully selected ingredients, the flavour is clean, and the health association is strong. The straightforward recipe and ease of use make it a natural fit even in the busiest service environments.
2. Less Alcohol, More Atmosphere: Sober Curious and Zebra Striping
Overall alcohol consumption is clearly declining, but customers still want a night out. Sober curious lifestyles, along with low-alcohol and alcohol-free options, are turning mocktails and light spritzes into permanent fixtures on drinks menus. At the same time, “zebra striping”, alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks over the course of the evening, is becoming more common. Guests want to enjoy themselves, explore new flavours and experience the feel of a cocktail, without high levels of alcohol. This creates an opportunity to extend drink sales throughout the evening, while demand for adult ‘premium’ soft drinks and sparkling water-based beverages continues to grow.
Our Pure Lemonades concentrates are made for this shift. They are easy to serve both as completely alcohol-free mocktails and as lighter spritzes where citrus and fruit carry the flavour and alcohol is added only as a subtle accent. A lighter serve is as simple as topping the concentrate with sparkling wine, for example. Thanks to this versatility, you can build a zebra-striping style drinks list where guests can choose similar, high-quality options at different alcohol levels without compromising on taste or presentation.
3. Clean Ingredients, Clear Conscience: Natural and Lower Sugar
Interest in ingredient lists is not a passing fad. In 2026, holistic health also means wanting drinks that feel as “simple” and honest as possible: fewer additives, natural flavours and colours, moderate sugar levels and a sensible degree of processing. Sweetness hasn’t disappeared, but it is expected to taste natural and balanced – not heavy or artificial.
Our NFC Lemon Juice is a perfect match for the clean-label mindset. It offers naturally bright acidity and flavour from cold-pressed lemon, without concentrates or added ingredients. It is especially well suited to restaurants and cafés that want to highlight transparency and authenticity in their sourcing. NFC Lemon Juice allows you to build drinks with a short, understandable ingredient list and a story about quality that is easy to tell your guests. The product is well suited not only for drinks and baking, but even for seasoning fish.
4. Back to Favourite Flavours: Little Moments of Indulgence and a Touch of Nostalgia
The drink trends of 2026 also shine a spotlight on indulgence, nostalgia and “me time”: small treats enjoyed alone, tiny rituals of self-reward and childhood flavours reimagined for adults. Guests are looking not only for great taste, but also for a visual experience; beautiful colours, layers and garnishes. Indulgent moments are, above all, about the overall experience: how the drink looks, what story it tells and the feeling it creates are just as important as the flavour.
Our Pure Lemonades concentrates provide an ideal base for this. Their bright, fresh colours and clear citrus and fruit profiles make them a natural choice for eye-catching spritzes and mocktails, where simple garnishes can create layers and texture in the glass. One standout is Pure Lemonade Plum–Apple–Cinnamon, which taps directly into the desire for nostalgia and comfort, offering a warm, cosy flavour experience that feels like a small pause in the middle of a busy day. Additionally, our Lemonades are quick and easy to decorate with, for example, a cinnamon stick, star anise, or a rhubarb swirl, which adds even more drama to the drink.
5. Efficient Service, Responsible Choice: Sustainability and Ease of Use
For both guests and professionals, a product’s carbon footprint and sustainability credentials are now a basic requirement rather than a nice bonus. Restaurants, hotels and cafés are looking more closely than ever at packaging volumes, logistics, storage, waste and energy efficiency. At the same time, they need solutions that are quick, consistent and easy to work with. In 2026, the winners will be concepts that combine smart packaging, efficient preparation and a clear sustainability story.
Our Unique Juice range offers a solution that works particularly well for hotels, lunch venues and staff restaurants where breakfast and lunch volumes are high. With juice dispensers, drinks can be served quickly and consistently, while controlled dosing helps keep waste to a minimum. The Unique Juice range is packed in environmentally conscious bag-in-box formats, helping to reduce packaging waste and overall environmental impact, without compromising on quality or convenience. Furthermore, the logistics-related emissions of the concentrate remain moderate because no extra water needs to be transported.
Wellbeing, Indulgence and Responsibility in One Glass
The drink trends for 2026 can be summed up in three words: wellbeing, indulgence and responsibility. Functional beverages and holistic health are more important than ever. Alcohol is used less but with more intention. Indulgence and nostalgia are returning through visually striking, experience-driven drinks, while clean-label thinking and natural ingredients have a strong influence on purchasing decisions. At the same time, responsible packaging, waste reduction and practical ease of use are everyday necessities for HoReCa professionals.
Our comprehensive product portfolio has been designed with exactly these needs in mind. With our solutions, you can offer your guests on-trend, easy-to-implement drink concepts from breakfast to late evening – without compromising on flavour, margins or sustainability.
Reach out and we will help you create a 2026 drinks menu that’s on-trend, profitable and effortless to run.
The following publications were used as sources:
EHL Insights: Beverage Trends Hospitality Professionals Should Watch in 2026
Food Navigator Europe: Top 3 new food and beverage trends for 2026
Innova Market Insights: Top Food and Beverage Trends 2026
KSI: Global Beverage Market Report
Reuters: Europeans ditching alcohol for taste and health reasons, research firm says
Technomic: 2026 Global Foodservice Trend Predictions
Uren: Top 2026 Drink Trends
