CBD beverages have quickly moved from niche shelves to mainstream coolers, becoming one of the fastest-growing segments in the functional drinks category. Analysts estimate the global CBD-infused beverages market at roughly US$4.36 billion in 2024, with projections reaching about US$13.8 billion by 2032, driven by a compound annual growth rate of more than 15%. Other reports tracking broader cannabis drinks show similar momentum, with the global cannabis beverages market expected to roughly triple by 2030.
Several forces are pushing this growth. First is the broader consumer shift toward functional and wellness beverages. Rather than reaching for sugary sodas or high-caffeine energy drinks, many shoppers—especially millennials and Gen Z—are seeking products that promise calm, focus, or recovery benefits. Market research highlights CBD beverages as a key driver in this wellness drink transformation, thanks to their perceived stress-relief and relaxation effects.
Second, format diversity is expanding the category. CBD is now found in sparkling waters, flavored seltzers, teas and coffees, recovery and “rehab” drinks, and even alcohol-adjacent social beverages. Retail data show strong growth in segments like CBD sparkling and seltzer waters, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and liquid teas, underlining how brands are using familiar drink formats to lower the barrier to trial. For consumers, CBD drinks offer an approachable, dose-controlled entry point compared with tinctures or vapes.
Demographics are also shifting in favor of CBD beverages. A new generation of “sober-curious” consumers is actively cutting back on alcohol and exploring non-alcoholic options that still feel social and indulgent. Trend reports show Gen Z increasingly choosing coffee, mocktails, and wellness drinks over beer or spirits, placing CBD-infused beverages squarely inside this lifestyle pivot. For brands, this creates a powerful positioning opportunity: CBD beverages as a modern alternative to the after-work drink or weekend cocktail.
At the same time, the industry is navigating a complex regulatory environment. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration maintains that adding CBD to foods and beverages for interstate commerce remains unlawful under current federal frameworks, even as CBD products continue to appear widely at retail. This federal–state mismatch has led to a patchwork of rules, where state-level hemp and cannabis programs may allow CBD drinks locally, but national brands must tread carefully with labeling, claims, and distribution strategies. For industry stakeholders, regulatory clarity—especially around hemp-derived CBD in beverages—remains one of the biggest gating factors to mass-market expansion.
Despite these headwinds, investment and innovation show no signs of slowing. Market intelligence firms project that CBD and hemp-based beverages will continue to post double-digit growth into the next decade, supported by ongoing legalization in North America and Europe and by major beverage and cannabis companies entering the space. Established players in alcohol, energy drinks, and ready-to-drink coffee are either launching CBD-adjacent brands or partnering with cannabis operators to test the category.
Looking ahead, the rise of CBD beverages is likely to reshape both the functional beverage and cannabis industries. For manufacturers, success will hinge on product differentiation (flavor, dose, and added functional ingredients), rigorous quality control, and transparent consumer education. For retailers, the opportunity lies in smart merchandising—treating CBD beverages not as a fringe product but as a core part of the modern wellness and social-drinking set. If regulators can deliver clearer guardrails, CBD beverages are well positioned to move from buzzy trend to long-term staple of the global drinks landscape.