A potable (see § word for alternative names) could be a drink that typically contains seltzer (although some alimentation waters and lemonades don't seem to be carbonated), a sweetener, and a natural or artificial ingredient. The sweetener could also be a sugar, high-fructose sirup, drink, a sugar substitute (in the case of diet drinks), or some combination of those. Soft drinks may additionally contain alkaloid, colorings, preservatives, and/or alternative ingredients.

Soft drinks area unit known as "soft" in distinction with "hard" alcoholic drinks. little amounts of alcohol could also be gift during a potable, however the alcohol content should be but zero.5% of the overall volume of the steep several countries and localities[1][2] if the drink is to be thought-about non-alcoholic.[3] punch, tea (even kombucha), and alternative such non-alcoholic drinks area unit technically soft drinks by this definition, however don't seem to be typically remarked intrinsically.

Soft drinks could also be served cold, over ice cubes, or at temperature. they're offered in several instrumentality formats, together with cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles. Containers are available in a spread of sizes, starting from little bottles to massive multi-liter containers. Soft drinks area unit wide offered at alimentation restaurants, moving picture theaters, convenience stores, casual-dining restaurants, dedicated soda stores, peddling machines, and bars from soda fountain machines. Soft drinks area unit sometimes served in paper or plastic disposable cups within the initial 3 venues. In casual feeding restaurants and bars, soft drinks area unit usually served in glasses made of glass or plastic. Soft drinks could also be drunk with straws or sipped directly from the cups.

Soft drinks area unit mixed with alternative ingredients in many contexts. In Western countries, in bars and alternative places wherever alcohol is served (e.g. airplanes, restaurants and nightclubs), several mixed drinks area unit created by mixing a potable with John Barleycorn and serving the drink over ice. One well-known example is that the rum and coke, which can conjointly contain juice. Some home-brewed punch recipes, which can or might not contain alcohol, contain a mix of assorted fruit juices and a potable (e.g. ginger ale). At frozen dessert parlors and 1950s-themed diners, frozen dessert floats, and specifically soft drink floats, area unit usually sold . samples of brands embody Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Sierra Mist, Fanta, Sunkist, Mountain condensate, Dr Pepper, Crush and seven UP.