Hosts serving drinks in glasses
Bottled cordial or squash suits a table where water, glasses and space to mix drinks are available. Tesco and Waitrose list these drinks in bottles, so plan for shared serving rather than individual cans.
Who is each format for?
Hosts who want individual drinks without mixing
Ready-to-drink multipack cans let players take an individual portion during the game. Tesco and Sainsbury's categorise these packs as soft drinks, not cordial.
Groups comparing sugar information
Check the nutrition and ingredients for the exact drink and serving size. The NHS identifies water and sugar-free or no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives to sugary drinks; wording on the front of a pack does not replace reading its label.
What should you check before buying?
Decide how drinks will be served first, then compare the pack and label details that matter to your guests.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving format | For cordial, check the bottle size and dilution directions, and have water and glasses ready. For cans, check the can count and volume against the number of players. | I can mix a jug for the table, or I'd rather let everyone take an individual drink without interrupting play. |
| Sugar information | Read the nutrition information for the prepared serving or can, alongside the ingredients. Follow the exact cordial's dilution directions rather than applying another product's ratio. | Drinks may be served more than once during the evening, so I want to know what is in each portion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen wording can indicate a cross-contamination risk. | Someone at the table has an allergy or ingredient requirement, and I need to check their drink before serving it. |
Common shopping mistakes
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Expecting cordial in a soft-drink can multipack
Cordial needs mixing, while ready-to-drink cans provide individual portions. Buying one format for the other can leave you without the water, glasses or portions you planned to use.
Choose between shared-serve concentrate and individual drinks before selecting a pack.
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Judging servings by the outer pack alone
A cordial bottle's volume is not the volume of the prepared drink; a can multipack has a stated number of individual portions.
Check the cordial's serving instructions or count the cans and their volumes against your plans for the evening.
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Skipping the label on a no-added-sugar drink
The wording does not tell you everything about a drink's ingredients or the nutrition of the portion being served.
Read the current ingredients and nutrition panel for the exact product and serving size.
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Overlooking an allergy warning
The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen wording communicates a potential cross-contamination risk. An allergy-affected guest needs information for the particular drink being served.
Ask guests about allergies and check the current pack, including any precautionary statement, before serving.
Brand and retailer references
These listings help distinguish bottled cordial and squash from ready-to-drink cans; they do not indicate which products are available on Joybuy.
Robinsons
Tesco lists Robinsons squash in bottles, while Waitrose lists Robinsons fruit cordial in a 500ml bottle.
- Tesco's directions for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash specify four parts water to one part squash.
- Use the directions for the particular bottle; this example does not establish a ratio for every Robinsons drink.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists squash and cordial separately from multipack soft drinks.
- Its cited squash listings include 1.75L Robinsons bottles and a 1.5L Tesco bottle, giving hosts bottle sizes to compare for shared serving.
- A can listed in its soft-drink multipack category should not be assumed to be cordial concentrate.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists bottled cordials from several brands, including Robinsons and Bottlegreen, as well as its own-label cordial.
- The cited listings show bottle sizes including 500ml and 1L.
- Check the particular listing and pack for its flavour, size and serving instructions.
Asda
Asda's drinks department separates squash and cordial from other drinks, including bigger packs.
- Its cited department page shows a 2L squash bottle alongside a canned soft-drink multipack example.
- Those examples are different drink formats; the page does not identify the canned example as cordial.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's places its multipack-can category within fizzy drinks.
- The category distinction is useful when looking for individual ready-to-drink cans rather than cordial to dilute.
- Check a specific product listing before planning portions or flavours; a category description is not a product specification.
Ready-to-drink options on Joybuy
These are soft-drink multipacks for serving individual drinks without mixing. They are alternatives to preparing bottled cordial, not canned cordial concentrates.
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PEPSI Max 24 x 330ml
The 24 x 330ml can format offers individual drinks without mixing a jug. This is a soft drink rather than cordial; check the current pack's caffeine and phenylalanine information against guests' requirements.
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Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 24 x 330ml
This 24 x 330ml can pack is for individual, ready-to-drink servings rather than shared cordial. Check the current ingredients and nutrition panel, including caffeine and phenylalanine information where relevant to your guests.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free Cans 24 x 330ml
The 24 x 330ml can format lets players take individual drinks without dilution. It is a carbonated soft drink, not cordial; check the exact pack's ingredients and nutrition information.
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7 Up Lemonade Zero 24 x 330ml
This can multipack provides individual drinks without mixing cordial. The product information uses both Lemonade Zero and Pink Lemonade wording, so confirm the exact flavour on the pack; also check its ingredients, including any phenylalanine information relevant to guests.
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J2O Orange & Passion Fruit 12 x 250ml
The 12 x 250ml format provides individual drinks without preparing a jug. This is a ready-to-drink soft drink, not cordial; check the current ingredients and nutrition information for the portion being served.
Frequently asked questions
Are cordial and multipack cans the same kind of drink?
Not in the cited supermarket listings. Tesco and Waitrose show cordial or squash in bottles, while Tesco and Sainsbury's categorise multipack cans as soft drinks. Choose cans if ready-to-drink individual portions matter more than serving diluted cordial.
How do I work out how much water to add to cordial?
Follow the directions on the exact bottle. Tesco's listing for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash specifies four parts water to one part squash; other drinks may have different instructions.
What should I check when comparing sugar information?
Read the exact drink's nutrition panel and ingredients, using the portion you intend to serve. The NHS distinguishes free sugars from total sugars and identifies water and sugar-free or no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives to sugary drinks.
What if a guest has an allergy?
Ask about their requirements and check the current pack's ingredients and allergen wording before serving that drink. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen statements communicate a potential cross-contamination risk.