The disclosed apparatus cools a drinking liquid utilizing the Peltier effect, and optionally includes a system of gasification for gasifying the drinking liquid, once cooled. The cooling system in turn includes: a first cooling circuit, in which an operating fluid circulates, associated with a hot side of a Peltier cell; and a second cooling circuit, in which the drinking liquid circulates, associated with a cold side of the Peltier cell. The Peltier cell is integrated in a cooling unit exhibiting a special sandwich structure which integrates, as well as the Peltier cell, a first and a second heat exchanger, apt respectively to exchange directly the heat between the operating fluid which circulates in the first cooling circuit and the hot side of the Peltier cell and between the drinking liquid which circulates in the second cooling circuit and the cold side of the Peltier cell to cool the drinking liquid.