Beyond "I’ll Just Have Water" — How Beverage Trends Can Drive Revenue

In many restaurants, cafés, and foodservice venues, the most common customer statement is, “I’ll just have water.” But what if that automatic response — driven by a preference for hydration or health — is actually an opportunity waiting to be unlocked? 2025 brings a rising wave of restaurant beverage trends centered on wellness, creativity, and profit. Let’s explore how businesses can move beyond plain water and introduce refreshing, healthy beverage alternatives that delight guests and boost the bottom line.

Then & Now: Why Customers Default to Water — The Health & Revenue Shift

Water’s dominance in beverage orders is no accident — it’s about health and simplicity. Rising awareness of sugar’s impact and calorie overload has driven consumers, especially Gen Z and Millennials, to favor water and low-sugar options. In fact, non-alcoholic beverage spending grew 6.2% in the past year, outpacing alcohol’s modest 2.4% growth.

Meanwhile, the sparkling water market is booming. Valued globally at $42.6 billion in 2024, it’s projected to more than double, to $108.4 billion by 2032, thanks to a 12.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). In the U.S., it’s also surging, with seasonal peaks in summer and sustained interest year-round.

Takeaway: Water orders reflect evolving guest expectations — opting for hydration, wellness, and authenticity. With the right alternatives, every water order becomes a cross-sell opportunity.

Healthy Beverage Alternatives to Offer

Meeting the wellness wave means stocking options that offer both purpose and pleasure. What can this look like for your business or service model?

• Sparkling & Enhanced Waters – Think electrolyte waters, flavored sparkling, or vitamin-infused options — hydrating but not sugary.
• Functional Teas & Cold-Pressed Juices – Quality teas and juices offer flavor and detox qualities.
• Prebiotic and Probiotic Sodas – Gut-health hero drinks like Poppi, Daytrip, or Pepsi’s new Prebiotic Cola offer familiar fizz with functional benefits.
• Mocktails & Non-Alcoholic Tonics – Sophisticated, alcohol-free cocktails or tonics appeal to the sober-curious or health-conscious.
• Emerging Options – Beverages like kombucha, fermented probiotics, or adaptogen-infused elixirs are also gaining popularity in wellness-conscious scenes.
  
  

Servers: How to Upsell Non-Alc & Healthy Drinks

Step 1: Acknowledge Health Intentions

• Client: “I’ll just have water.”
• Server: “Absolutely — can I interest you in a sparkling version or a vitamin-enhanced option that’s delicious and low in sugar?”

Step 2: Anchor Value in Flavor and Function

• Highlight choices:
  • Sparkling Water – “Refreshing, bubbly, and still hydrating.”
  • Poppi Prebiotic Soda – “Fruity and gut-friendly.”
  • Olipop – “Tastes like soda, but with fiber and probiotics.”
  • Specialty Iced Teas or Juice Blends – “Lightly sweet, not syrupy.”

Step 3: Leverage Bernick’s Expertise

• Train staff on healthy beverage alternatives. Bernick’s supplies sparkling waters, prebiotic drinks, elevated teas, mocktails, and even THC-infused options where legal — all with familiar brands and new favorites.

Step 4: Provide Tasting Samples

• Offering a quick sip of a fizzy, flavorful non-alc option can turn a water order into a sale.
  
  

How to Turn “I’ll Have Water” into Profitable Choices

By reframing water into a starting point rather than the end of the journey, it becomes an opportunity for delight, differentiation, and margin-building.

Restaurant Trends: Why This Matters

1. Consumer Spending is Shifting – Non-alcoholic beverages are growing faster than other drink categories, and consumers are paying premiums for perceived health benefits.
2. Gen Z and Millennials Lead Health Priorities – They prefer mindful hydration and functional drinks over sugar-laden sodas.
3. Innovation Drives Guest Excitement – “WaterTok” trends and flavored water posts demonstrate how creativity in hydration drives social engagement and sales.
   
   

Hydrate Smarter, Profit Heartier

The "just water" order is a familiar script, but one that’s ripe for re-writing. By offering healthy beverage alternatives, training servers to upsell non-alc drinks, and delivering products that fit wellness-forward expectations, venues can elevate guest experience and profitability.

Bernick’s is ready to help — from menu planning to stocking and staff training — so your next “it’s just water” moment becomes an opportunity to impress, refresh, and grow your revenue.

Ready to dive deeper into the healthy beverage revolution? Let’s chat and customize your mocktail menu and hydration lineup today.