National Beverage Day falls on May 6, and we couldn’t be more excited. The day encourages us to sit back, relax, and enjoy our favorite beverages. Beverages come in many forms. And whether you prefer a hold or a cold one, the good news is, there is one for every taste.
The only thing that matters is picking up or making some of your favorites, gathering with family and friends, and getting ready to enjoy and unwind.
- 6000 BC – Milk is a nutrient-rich liquid produced by mammals. Humans have consumed it for thousands of years, with evidence dating back to 6,000 BCE.
- 6000 BC – Wine is made from fermented grapes and has been enjoyed since around 6,000 BCE, with origins traced to Georgia.
- 5000 BC – The earliest evidence of beer dates back to around 5,000 BCE in Iran. Ancient Sumerians even had a goddess of beer named Ninkasi.
- 2737 BC – Legend has it that tea was discovered by Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 BC when tea leaves accidentally blew into his boiling water pot.
- 900 AD – The Mayans consume a beverage made from Xocolatl, better known these days as cacao, the main ingredient in chocolate.
- 1025 – Sharbat, a popular drink made from fruits or flower petals and usually served chilled, is mentioned in the “Canon of Medicine”.
- 16th Century – The world’s first coffee as we know it today is thought to have been made by a Yemeni named Omar in the 16th century.
- 1767 – The invention of carbonated water, the foundation of modern soda, is attributed to 18th-century English scientist Joseph Priestley.
- 1886 – American John Pemberton adds flavoring to carbonated water, creating the iconic Coca-Cola,
- 1850s – The creation of Ginger Ale is often attributed to Dr. Thomas Joseph Cantrell, an Irish surgeon.
- 1890s – Canadian John J. McLaughlin, a chemist and pharmacist, added flavor extracts to his version. And so Canada Dry was created. It became a hit in the prohibition-era US as a mixer for cocktails.
- 1898 – Pepsi Cola was introduced in 1898. It was named after a digestive enzyme named pepsin and kola nuts.
- 1920 – During U.S. prohibition (1920–1933), soda fountains thrived as alternatives to saloons. People gathered to drink non-alcoholic options like root beer, creating a cultural shift toward soft drinks as social staples.
- 1921 – Early mentions of National Beverage Day can be found as early as 1921. At this time, the day was known as Bottled Carbonated Beverage day. It was thought of as a way to promote bottled fizzy drinks as “pure” and “wholesome!”
- 1925 – The Bottled Carbonated Beverage Day during the time assures customers that bottled soda is free from impurities and good for health.
- 1929 – The soft drink 7Up was originally named “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” when it was formulated in 1929 because it contained lithium citrate. The beverage was a patent medicine marketed as a cure for hangovers. – Source
- 1945 – The 1945 Food and Nutrition Board Paper often quoted statement “humans require roughly 2.5 liters (8 glasses) per day” is only 1/2 of the full statement. The other half was “we get most of the fluid we need from food and other beverages.” – Source
- 1952 – James Bond makes his first appearance — his favorite beverage: martini, shaken, not stirred.
- 1963 – The pop-top can, ubiquitous for soda and beer, was invented in 1963 by Ermal Fraze.
- 1962 – The first energy drink, Lipovitan D, was introduced in Japan in 1962.
- 1989 – Beer was banned in Iceland until 1 March 1989, which is now celebrated annually as Beer Day.
- 1992 – In Finland, the annual “World Wife-Carrying Championship” has a fun twist: winners receive the wife’s weight in beer.
- 2011 – Russia didn’t consider beer to be an alcoholic beverage until 2011. Before then, it was classified as a soft drink. – Source
- 2013 – After more than 20 years of soda being America’s number one beverage, water has taken over as Americans’ favorite drink. – Source
- Water is the most essential beverage for human survival, making up about 60% of the human body.
- Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water, with over 3 billion cups consumed daily.
- Coffee is the second most traded commodity worldwide, right behind oil.
- Toasts date back to ancient Rome, where people clinked glasses to ward off poison. The gesture ensured no one tampered with drinks, adding trust to communal celebrations. Today, “cheers” continues as a global tradition of camaraderie.
- Today, beverages are divided into at least 19 categories, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, caffeinated beverages, barley-based beverages, maize beverages, rice drinks and so on.
- NASA has developed special canisters and pouches to ensure astronauts can enjoy coffee, tea, and even juice in orbit.
- Pirates favored “grog,” a mix of rum, water, lime, and sugar. This diluted beverage prevented scurvy and conserved alcohol supplies. It also kept sailors hydrated when fresh water on ships turned brackish.
- Ginger Ale is sometimes used to help soothe indigestion or nausea.
- In Babylon, King Hammurabi’s Code included strict regulations for beer sellers. If tavern keepers overcharged customers or watered down beer, they faced the death penalty.
- In Mongolia, kumis is a traditional drink made from fermented mare’s milk. It’s mildly alcoholic and believed to have health benefits.
- In India, soma, a sacred Vedic drink, was believed to grant immortality and divine wisdom. Though its exact ingredients are lost, ancient texts describe it as central to religious rituals and poetry.
- The day before Thanksgiving—known as Blackout Wednesday—is the biggest drinking day of the year in many areas of the United States.
- “Beverage” themed songs:
- “Beer for My Horses” by Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
- “Red Red Wine” by UB40
- “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock
- “I Drink Alone” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers
- Coconut water is a natural electrolyte-rich drink that can help with hydration and replenishing lost nutrients.
- 10% of the people account for 60% of sales of alcoholic beverages. – Source
- Approximately 25% of all soft drinks are sold in the United States.
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