ANA Insider

Insights, news, events, and jobs for the adult non-alcoholic beverage industry

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The Daycap is an ANA Moment.

A new word is quietly working its way into the drinks industry vocabulary. The Daycap. And if you haven't heard it yet, you will.

The concept is simple: a drink enjoyed in the late afternoon or early evening, before the night properly begins. Not a nightcap at the end of a long evening, but a considered drink that fits around modern life — earlier, lighter, and still home at a sensible hour. Bacardi's 2026 Cocktail Trends Report frames it as a shift toward "micro-celebrations that fit modern routines," built around spritz culture, smaller serves, and drinking windows that complement the rest of the day rather than derail it.

The data suggests this isn't just trend language. OpenTable reports a 6% national increase in 6pm restaurant reservations across the UK, up 11% in London. Hospitality tech company Zonal puts the new national average dining time at 6:12pm. Over half of all UK reservations now fall between midday and 6pm. Only 2% of bookings are for 9pm or later.

People aren't going out less. They're going out differently — and earlier.

For the adult non-alcoholic category, this is a really interesting opportunity I’m seeing right now. The Daycap isn't a sober occasion. It isn't Dry January, and it isn't driven by people who don't drink.

It's driven by people who want to go out, feel something in the glass, and enjoy the ritual of a considered drink — but aren't looking to be derailed before dinner. That's the exact consumer the ANA category exists to serve, arriving in volume, earlier in the evening, at the exact moment the on-premise is figuring out how to fill those newly popular 6pm reservations.

The consumer behavior is already shifting. What hasn't caught up on yet is the offer.

Too many menus still present ANA as a fallback — something you order when you're not drinking, rather than something you actively choose. The Daycap occasion demands the opposite framing. It calls for drinks with real flavor architecture, genuine cultural depth, and the kind of menu presence that signals to a guest: this was designed for you, not designed to accommodate you.

Bars and restaurants that get ahead of this won't just capture a trend. They'll build a new revenue stream anchored in an occasion that's growing, earlier-evening, and increasingly mainstream across demographics.

The Daycap is where the ANA category gets to stop being the alternative and start being the point.

What do you think about the Daycap? Share your thoughts.

​Marcos Salazar​
CEO, Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA)

Member Spotlight + News:

How Sovi Wine Co. is Using Single-Estate Sourcing to Build a Premium ANA Wine

When Sovi Wine Co. launched its first adult non-alcoholic wine in 2020, Co-Founder Julia Littauer made a decision that most new ANA wine brands don't make - rather than buying finished wine off the bulk market and sending it through dealcoholization, she contracted directly with a single vineyard to grow grapes specifically for that purpose. "We wanted it to taste like the actual wine," she told me during our conversation. "And if you're starting with a subpar wine that isn't really fit for dealcoholization, the easiest way to make it taste good is to add a lot of sugar and flavors."

That choice - to control the process from the ground up rather than take the faster, cheaper route available to any new ANA wine brand - has shaped everything about how Sovi operates. It is what allows them to produce wines with no added sugars or artificial flavors, adjust blends vintage to vintage, and build the kind of quality foundation that has supported the company's growth into premium bottle formats and independent restaurants and retailers across the country.

• Athletic Brewing has introduced Nitro Emerald Cliffs, pushing non-alcoholic beer innovation forward with a nitrogen-infused offering designed to elevate texture and flavor. (stupidDOPE)​
• St. Buena Vida is bringing premium non-alcoholic wine to Westchester, expanding access to sophisticated alcohol-free options for mindful drinkers. (Westchester Magazine)​
• Edna's Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Co. is expanding its footprint with Target as demand rises for ready-to-drink alcohol-free cocktails crafted with bold, complex flavors. (Yahoo Finance)​
• Three Spirit is now offering delivery in as fast as 15 minutes via Gopuff in the U.S., making its functional, alcohol-free drinks more accessible to on-demand shoppers. (LinkedIn)​
• NOUGHTY highlighted new developments and community engagement initiatives as it continues to grow its presence in the adult non-alcoholic beverage space (LinkedIn)​
• DioniLife has strengthened its leadership team with seasoned brand owners and industry veterans across sales, innovation, and operations to support its growth in the non-alcoholic adult beverage category. (Drinks Intel)​
• Nonny is now available through Sysco Canada, expanding distribution of its Canadian craft non-alcoholic beer to more on-premise and menu locations nationwide. (LinkedIn)​
• Three Spirit saw a massive 907% sales surge after being featured on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, highlighting the power of earned media in driving demand for its Nightcap. (LinkedIn)​
• Athletic Brewing is now available through Libra Drinks Wholesale Ltd across the Midlands, strengthening its on-trade distribution footprint in the United Kingdom. (LinkedIn)​

Previous Member Spotlights

• ​Why Total Wine is Dedicating 20 Feet of Space to Drive Adult Non-Alcoholic Category Growth​
• ​How Free AF Scaled Sips to Lips Through Strategic Partnerships​
• ​How All The Bitter is Building ANA Consumer Understanding Through a Zero-Proof Market & Lounge​
• ​Mocktail Club is Expanding Category Growth Through Non-Analog Beverages​
• ​The Wine Company is Building Distributor Infrastructure for Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverages​
• ​Free Spirits is Advancing ANA Spirit Quality Through Continuous Product Iteration​
• ​Gruvi's Data-Driven Rebranding Solved Shelf Visibility and Product Discovery​
• ​ABV Technology is Building De-Alcoholization Infrastructure to Enable Craft Producers to Enter the ANA Market​
• ​Mingle Mocktails is Expanding Into Functional Beverages to Capture Evolving Consumer Preferences​
• ​Enthuse Marketing Built ANA Category Credibility Through Tastemaker Education About Seedlip​
• ​TÖST Built National Distribution by Designing Beverages for Occasions Instead of Replicating Alcohol​
• ​How Raising the Bar's Subscription Model Drives ANA Discovery​
• ​ISH is Building a Full ANA Portfolio to Keep Consumers Coming Back - and Help Retailers Win​

ANA Industry News:

• The global no- and low-alcohol drinks market is projected to grow by 37% by 2027, driven by health-conscious consumers and expanding premium offerings. (Vinetur)​
• Games of Thrones star Kit Harington has invested in an Essex-based non-alcoholic spirits company, signaling growing celebrity backing and mainstream momentum behind the alcohol-free movement. (Echo News)​
• Adult non-alcoholic brands are gaining traction in unconventional spaces like music venues, fitness studios, and specialty cafés, broadening their reach beyond traditional retail shelves. (BevNET)​
• Non-alcoholic wine is emerging as a sophisticated lifestyle choice across Asia, with premium producers redefining quality and positioning it as a legitimate alternative to traditional vintages. (Prestige Online)​
• A new wave of alcohol-free drinks is reshaping UK drinking culture, as consumers embrace mindful consumption without sacrificing flavor or social rituals. (BBC Food)​
• A recent survey shows many Americans are aiming to cut back on alcohol in 2026, reflecting sustained interest in moderation and sober-curious lifestyles. (Yahoo Finance)​
• Adult non-alcoholic brands are unlocking retail growth by tapping into alternative channels like natural grocery, convenience, and cross-category placements. (Brewbound)​
• New EU regulations are introducing clearer labeling and production standards for no- and low-alcohol wines, requiring brands to adapt quickly to remain compliant and competitive. (TYRRST)​

Webinars + Events:

Designing Boxes for Cans: Trends & Tips to Save Time & Money

Date: March 5, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM ET Where: Online (Zoom) Speaker Jacob Hedlund

In this webinar, Jacob Hedlund, expert in the packaging industry, will teach you everything you need to know for designing boxes for cans - from initial concept to sitting on the shelf. You'll learn how to increase fulfillment efficiency to save time and money, how to make your box stand out on the shelf to attract new customers, and everything related to board material, box style options based on your fulfillment process, how to strengthen the handle, art design focus, sustainable options and more.

• ​The Rise of Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Canada - March 18, 2026

ANBA Member Jobs:

Featured: Senior National Account Manager​ (Hybrid, London, UK)

Lucky Saint is hiring a Senior National Account Manager (UK&I Grocery) to lead key retail partnerships, manage top grocery accounts, and drive sustainable off-trade growth as the brand continues its mission to become the defining alcohol-free beer.

• ​Free Spirits - Brand Ambassador (Remote, USA)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Marketing & Food Labeling Compliance Specialist (On-site, San Diego, CA)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Marketing & Food Labeling Compliance Specialist (On-site, Milford, CT)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Packaging Operator I (On-site, San Diego, CA)
• ​Daily Pour - Events Intern (Remote, New York, NY)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Social Media Intern - College Ambassador (On-site, San Diego, CA)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Maintenance Technician I, SD (On-site, San Diego, CA)
• ​​Athletic Brewing Co.​ - Territory Manager Midwest (On-site, St. Louis, MO)
• ​Sylva - US Head Maker (On-site, Hudson Valley, NY)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - NetSuite Support Specialist (On-site, San Diego, CA)
• ​Athletic Brewing Co. - Territory Manager - Ontario & Atlantic (On-site, Toronto, ON)

The Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) is a global trade organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and accelerating the growth of the adult non-alcoholic beverage industry. We connect producers and industry partners with the insights, resources, and community they need to thrive in this rapidly expanding category.