EXHIBIT 5.1

                  OPINION OF AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.

                                  July 31, 2002

National Beverage Corp.
One North University Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida  33324

         Re:  National Beverage Corp. (the "Company")
              Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         You have requested our opinion with respect to the issuance of up to
750,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), issuable upon exercise of options granted or to be
granted under the terms of the (1) National Beverage Corp. 1991 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, (2) National Beverage Corp. Special Stock Option Plan and (3)
National Beverage Corp. Key Employee Equity Partnership Program (the "Plans"),
included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement"), which is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

         As special counsel to the Company, we have examined the original or
certified copies of such records of the Company and such agreements,
certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of
the Company and others, and such other documents as we deem relevant and
necessary for the opinion expressed in this letter. In such examination, we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the
conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or
photostatic copies. As to various questions of fact material to such opinion, we
have relied upon statements or certificates of officials and representatives of
the Company and others.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  When the Registration Statement becomes effective under the
                  Securities Act, and when the Shares are issued against
                  delivery of adequate consideration therefor in accordance with
                  and pursuant to the terms of the Plans, the Shares will be
                  validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We advise you that the foregoing opinion is limited to the securities
laws of the United States of America and the corporate laws of the State of
Delaware and that we express no opinion herein concerning the applicability or
effect of any laws of any other jurisdiction.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are included within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.