Have you wandered through your local bottle-o lately? The shelves are a kaleidoscope of colour, lined with smoked glass vessels and seductive slimline cans boasting sweet notes of orange, a subtle tang of hibiscus or a rich blend of berries. 

But the real clincher? None of these beverages are alcoholic. Instead, they contain mood boosting, health-aligned ingredients promising to increase brain function, fight stress and boost focus. 

All wrapped up in a pretty package that’s cool enough to pull out at your next dinner party. 

They’re what’s known as "functional beverages," and while the term isn’t new (everything from kombucha to vitamin water has been classified as "functional" in the past), they are new to the non-alcoholic category. 

Functional beverages include ingredients like vitamins, electrolytes, collagen, amino acids, probiotics and dietary fibres. The right concoction can improve your mood, digestion, immunity and overall health. 

 So which ones are worth trying, and why? 

 Ahead, we take a look at some of the best and brightest functional beverages on the market. 

VIA Sparkling Aperitif 

Sophisticated and fun, the VIA range is packed with the finest ingredients that are vegan friendly and gluten free. They’re also formulated with VIAGENICS™, a functional mix of plant extracts designed to calm and revitalise, i.e., make you feel damn good. 

All in all, these clever bevvies will kill brain fog, increase focus and boost energy. What’s not to love, right? 

The entire range is worth a try, but we recommend starting with the sparkling aperitif. Zesty and flavourful, this is a tangy, alcohol free take on the classic Italian spritz.

 Bonus points: VIA was founded by two female besties and has a real women supporting women vibe. They even donate 5% of their profits to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter and the Lillian Howell Project. 

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Fizz Functional Berry Boost

Packed with marine collagen, Fizz Functional Berry Boost promises to strengthen your hair, skin and nails. all from a calorie-free fizzy drink! Who would’ve thought? 

With zero sugar and a delectable berry flavour (it’s not sickly sweet, promise! ), you’ll find yourself reaching for a can time and again. 

Need something a little stronger? Berry Boost is made by the team behind Hard Fizz, a collection of naturally brewed, low-calorie seltzers. 

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Ārepa The Brain Drink (For Calm & Clarity) 

Designed to keep you feeling calm and thinking clearly, this sparkling number from Ārepa is packed with 250 mg of L-theanine, an amino acid known to help with relaxation. It’s also said to ease anxiety, stress and banish insomnia. Light and mellow with a subtle hint of blackcurrant, this easy-to-consume beverage tastes seriously good, too. 

Caffeine-free and completely natural, the Ārepa range is designed by neuroscientists to, quite simply, make our brains work better. Each product is scientifically formulated to support brain health and cognitive performance, leaving you with the energy to stay focused and alert all day. 

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Vive Sparkling Lime 

Tart and refreshing, this lightly sparkling energy drink is packed with natural brain-boosting ingredients like L-Theanine, Panax Ginseng, Green Coffee Bean, Vitamin B Complex and Vitamin C, to help you think and thrive. 

This tangy treat (which has less than a gram of natural sugar) is non-alcoholic, vegan and super zesty. No coffee-jitters here! 

The perfect pick-me-up before an afternoon meeting.

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