bibite

Bibite is the Italian term for beverages, with a primary reference to non-alcoholic drinks. In everyday usage, bibite covers a wide range of liquids consumed as refreshment or hydration, including mineral waters, fruit juices, dairy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks. The singular form bibita refers to a single drink, while bibite is the plural used to denote the category as a whole. The word derives from Latin bibere "to drink" and has cognates in many Romance languages; in Italian, bibite is often contrasted with vini and spiriti, the alcoholic beverages.

In Italy, a significant subcategory is bibite gassate, or carbonated drinks, including popular soft drinks such as aranciata (orange soda), limonata (lemon soda), chinotto, and gazosa. Non-carbonated bibite include fruit juices, nectars, milk-based drinks, and herbal or tea beverages. While the term is common in Italian, English texts generally translate bibite as beverages or soft drinks.

Industry and regulation context: Production includes multinational brands and small producers; packaging often uses PET bottles or glass. The market is governed by food and beverage regulations in the European Union, including labeling of ingredients, nutrition information, and allergen declarations. Public health concerns focus on sugar content and artificial sweeteners; some regions impose sugar taxes or restrictions on marketing to minors. Overall, bibite represents a broad category that encompasses many commonly consumed non-alcoholic drinks in Italian daily life and commerce.