Do CBD Drinks Expire?

You open the fridge. Behind the oat milk and half a lemon is… a dusty old can of Little Rick. You squint at the bottom. “Best before… last spring?” Now what?

CBD drinks do not go sour like milk or explode like old cola. But leave them sitting long enough, and the flavour fades, the fizz dies, and the CBD stops pulling its weight.

So if you are wondering whether to sip it, bin it, or give it a sniff test, we have answers.

Do CBD Drinks Expire?

Yes, CBD drinks do expire, but not in the way milk or meat does. Most have a best before date, not a use by date. 

In UK food labelling terms, that means the product is safe to consume after the date, but the quality may drop. Think of it like old crisps, not dangerous, but a bit sad.

CBD drinks rarely grow mould or go rancid. But over time, they can lose potency, go flat, or taste off. That is especially true if you store them badly (more on that soon).

For Little Rick products, the average shelf life of CBD drinks is 12 months unopened, assuming you store them in a cool, dark place.

How Long Do CBD Drinks Stay Fresh?

CBD drinks can stay fresh anywhere from 24 hours to 12 months, depending on how you store them. Below is a quick breakdown of how long your CBD drink will stay fresh, fizzy, and functional based on its condition:

What Affects CBD Drink Shelf Life?

Several sneaky factors influence how long your CBD drink stays fresh, tasty, and effective:

• Exposure to light: UV rays degrade cannabinoids over time.
• Heat: High temps speed up oxidation and break down ingredients.
• Air: Oxygen degrades CBD once a can is opened.
• Packaging: Glass lets in more light; cans are better sealed.
• Preservatives: Natural preservatives like citric acid can help extend shelf life.
• Type of CBD used: Isolate breaks down faster; full-spectrum is more stable.

At Little Rick, we use opaque cans and real fruit acids to lock in freshness. No light. No chemicals. Just clean, functional hemp and natural preservatives doing their job.

How to Store CBD Drinks Properly

Want to keep your CBD drinks tasting great and working right? Storage matters.

Before Opening

• Keep them in a cool, dark cupboard

• Avoid windowsills, radiators, or any other areas with sunlight

• If storing in bulk, rotate your stock; newest at the back

After Opening

• Pop it in the fridge right away
• Drink within 24-72 hours for best flavour and effect
• If it tastes flat or dull, it is probably time to move on

Travelling 

Treat your can like a houseplant, not a ham sandwich.

If you are off to a mate’s, a festival, or just smuggling calm into your in-laws’ house, keep it cool, keep it shady.

Toss it in your backpack. Back seat’s fine. But leave it baking in the car boot, and you are basically slow-cooking your cannabinoids. CBD does not love a sauna.

Do CBD Drinks Lose Potency Over Time?

Yes, cbd drinks can lose potency, especially if the can is exposed to heat or air. Over time, cannabinoids start to oxidise and break down. 

According to this study, CBD stored at room temperature for six months showed a 20% decline in potency.

So, if you are sipping a year-old can of CBD, you are still safe, but you may not feel the same calming effects you would with a fresh one. Potency loss is gradual, not instant, but it makes a difference.

Unlike many other CBD products, Little Rick uses in-house full-spectrum CBD that includes CBG and CBC. This not only improves the effect but also helps stabilise the blend over time.

How to Tell If a CBD Drink Has Gone Off

Worried your drink is past its prime? Use your senses:

• Smell: Does it smell off or sour?
• Taste: Is the flavour muted, weird, or just wrong?
• Look: Cloudy, chunky, or separated beyond repair?
• Fizz: If it is flat, the can may have lost its seal.
• Date check: Always glance at the expiration date before cracking a can.

Can You Get Sick from Drinking Expired CBD?

Highly unlikely.

Expired CBD drinks are not likely to make you ill, unless they contain dairy or fresh fruit and have been stored improperly. Most cannabis infused beverages are pasteurised or shelf-stable and do not support bacterial growth.

What you might experience is a flat, stale, or ineffective drink, not food poisoning. That said, do not push your luck with anything that smells weird or looks suspicious.

As Dr. Bonni Goldstein explains, CBD is non-toxic, even in degraded form. But degraded CBD may not offer the same calming or anti-anxiety benefits.

How Long Do Little Rick CBD Drinks Stay Fresh?

Every can of Little Rick has a 12-month shelf life from production. That is thanks to:

• Gentle pasteurisation (not preservatives)
• Opaque, sealed cans
• High-quality, small-batch production

We also lab-test every batch to ensure strength, safety, and cannabinoid content, so what you read on the label is what you get in the can.

You will find the best before date printed on the base. That means if you have got a few cans tucked away, no stress, you have got a full year from production to enjoy them at their best. 

Just store them right, crack them cold, and let them do their thing.

FAQs

Can CBD drinks go bad if unrefrigerated?

Unopened? No, they are fine at room temp.

Opened? Yes, drink within 24-72 hours.

Do CBD drinks need to be kept in the fridge?

Only after opening. Before that, a cool cupboard is perfect.

Can I drink an expired CBD drink?

You can, but it might lose potency and taste off. Trust your senses.

What happens if CBD separates?

Give it a gentle shake. Separation is normal, especially with real fruit juice.

Do CBD drinks contain preservatives?

Not ours. Little Rick uses natural preservatives and pasteurisation, not synthetic additives.