Soft Power: why next-gen drinks are the most exciting thing in your fridge right now.

There was a time, not long ago, when the word ‘drink’ meant one thing: alcohol. If you weren’t partaking, you were offered a lukewarm Coke, tap water, or a polite grimace. But that’s no longer the case. From sparkling botanicals to sustainability-led wines and functional fizz with mood-boosting benefits, the drinks world has undergone a quiet but radical transformation.

This isn’t about alcohol versus soft. It’s about rethinking what a ‘good drink’ even means. Maybe it boosts your mood, supports your gut, looks good on a shelf, or just makes you feel something. That might mean 0%, or it might mean low ABV in a bottle you actually want to bring to a party.

These aren’t just alcohol alternatives. They’re statement beverages in their own right; beautiful, flavour-forward, health-curious, and design-conscious. They span the spectrum, from completely alcohol-free to low-ABV and fermented. What they have in common is intent. We’re entering a new drinks era where identity, wellness and aesthetics meet in the can or the bottle. They’re nuanced. Purpose-led. A little bit glamorous.

Here are the brands pushing the boundaries… and the bottles actually worth opening. Because, frankly, the most interesting thing in your fridge probably isn’t the wine anymore… and that’s okay.

Wellness, but With Flavour

Try: Punchy — Mexican Lime

Hydration has long been marketed as self-care, but rarely has it tasted this good. Punchy’s sparkling electrolyte range is the kind of drink you can reach for after a 10K or during a hangover-free night out and feel smug either way. The Mexican Lime edition is particularly strong: tart, bright, lightly salted, with a mineral backbone that feels more Riviera than recovery room.

This is hydration for people who don’t want to be lectured while drinking. Functional, but without the grimace.

Verdict: Not your usual hydration drink. Slick, savoury and surprisingly craveable.

£22.00 for 12x330ml

The Rise of Spice

Try: Picoso — Zesty Lime and Tropical Mango

We’ve hit peak fermentation. The next frontier? Heat. Picoso is leading the spicy soda charge with adult-forward drinks that make you feel something. Zesty Lime gets its kick from scotch bonnet while Tropical Mango is built around Mexican habanero. Both are rounded with agave and citrus for balance.

It’s rare to find a soft drink that feels dangerous in the best way. A genuine palate-tingler, brilliant alone or over ice with a splash of mezcal.

Verdict: Sharp, sophisticated and entirely addictive. Finally, a soft drink with edge.

£15.00 for 6x250ml

Sustainable Wine, With Style

Try: Vinca — Organic White in Aluminium Bottle

Let’s talk wine…but smarter. Vinca’s full-sized 11 per cent ABV bottles are made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium, and they’re light, fast-chilling, and infinitely recyclable. Inside, the organic Sicilian white is dry, bright and aromatic, with the kind of character you rarely get at this price point.

It’s a rare moment where packaging, carbon impact and flavour align, creating functional wine for intentional living.

Verdict: Clever, cool and quietly disruptive. The future is canned and classy.

£19.99 for 2x750ml

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Good Gut, Great Taste

Try: Jamu — Blood Orange / Agua de Madre — Pomegranate Hibiscus

We’re in the era of drinks that do more. Jamu’s Wild Waters are gut-friendly, sparkling and infused with rosemary, echinacea and prebiotics. Blood Orange is the best of the lot; lightly bitter, grown-up and refreshing. Agua de Madre’s kefirs are fermented and complex, with Pomegranate Hibiscus delivering floral depth and that signature cultured tang.

These are functional drinks that don’t sacrifice flavour or elegance. They feel like self-care in a coupe glass.

Verdict: Sophisticated sips that support your gut and your Instagram grid.

£40.00 for 24x250ml | Jamu
£34.20 for 12x250ml | Agua de Madre

Low to No Wine That’s Actually Good

Try: Moderato Rosé / Sea Change Sparkling

Most no and low wines are designed to replace alcohol. These taste good enough to forget what’s missing. Moderato’s Rosé is dry, elegant and full of juicy red fruit, while Sea Change’s 0.0% sparkling is crisp and citrus-led with strong sustainability credentials.

If you’re alternating between alcoholic and alcohol-free, or just prefer options, these belong on your summer table.

Verdict: Zero alcohol, zero compromise. Stylish and sippable.

£14.90 per bottle | Moderato
[£10.99 per bottle | Sea Change

Not Just for Kids Anymore

Try: Pip Organic — Apple Fizz

Technically made for tweens, but don’t let that stop you. Pip’s Apple Fizz is a crisp, clean organic apple soda with no added sugar or sweeteners. It’s the drink equivalent of a white t-shirt: simple, timeless, and works with everything.

The branding might be playful, but the liquid inside is quietly impressive.

Verdict: Buy it for your kids, drink it yourself. No shame.

£29.99 for 24x250ml

Luxury in a Long Glass

Try: Franklin and Sons — Rhubarb Lemonade / Orchard Apple and Pear

Franklin and Sons excels at grown-up softs. The Rhubarb Lemonade is tart and floral with a gentle fizz, while Orchard Apple and Pear feels like an English garden in full bloom. Serve over ice in a balloon glass with herbs or mix into a zero-ABV spritz.

Every flavour tastes intentional. Nothing feels like filler.

Verdict: Polished and nostalgic. A non-alcoholic Negroni’s best friend.

£15.25 for 12x275ml

Decadence Without the Drama

Try: Mash Gang — Lesser Evil (0.5 percent Cherry Chocolate Stout)

A cherry-laced, chocolate-rich pastry stout with barely a trace of alcohol? Lesser Evil is extravagant, velvety and entirely vegan. It drinks like dessert, with a depth that’s rare at 0.5% Not subtle, not shy and absolutely not trying to be beer-lite.

Mash Gang is pushing the limits of what ‘non-alcoholic’ can taste like. This is proof that bold doesn’t require booze.

Verdict: Maximalist and unashamedly indulgent. Not a session drink but a serious flex.

£13.99 for 4x440ml

The Fruit-Led Favourites

Try: Luscombe — Mango and Peach Crush / Dorset Ginger — Rhubarb with a Ginger Kick

Luscombe’s Mango and Peach Crush is golden hour in a glass. Juicy Alphonso mango, soft white peach and a whisper of citrus. It’s the sort of thing you sip barefoot. Dorset Ginger’s Rhubarb with a Ginger Kick is bolder; spicy, tart and utterly British. Delicious chilled or warm, it has an old-world charm that feels new again.

These are drinks for people who like flavour, not fuss.

Verdict: Perfect for slow afternoons, seaside snacks or sharing in the garden.

£26.50 for 12x320ml | Luscombe
£33 for 6x750ml | Dorset Ginger

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