Hosts serving a small game group
A bottle allows several pours, while cans let guests open separate drinks. Think about chilling space and what you will do with an opened bottle afterwards.
Who are the drinks for?
Guests choosing a non-alcoholic fruit drink
A smoothie made with juices and purées offers a different texture from a carbonated fruit drink. Check the ingredients rather than assuming that drinks with similar fruit flavours contain the same things.
Hosts checking guests' dietary needs
Read each pack's ingredients and allergen information before serving, particularly when guests have allergies, intolerances or other ingredient requirements.
What should you check?
Decide whether the group wants a still smoothie or a fizzy drink, then choose a pack format and check the label of the exact product.
Still smoothie
Choose it when: Guests want a fruit-and-purée drink poured into glasses.
Bear in mind: A chilled share bottle needs space in the fridge and a plan for leftovers.
Sparkling fruit drink
Choose it when: Fizz matters more than smoothie texture; cans can give guests separate servings.
Bear in mind: Juice content, sugar and sweeteners vary, so a fruit-flavoured fizzy drink should not be treated as a smoothie.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink format | Check whether the drink contains fruit purée or is carbonated. Read the ingredient list and any stated juice content. | I'm choosing between a still smoothie to pour into glasses and a fizzy drink for guests who prefer bubbles. |
| Servings and sugars | Check the pack volume, serving information and sugars per 100ml. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. | A large bottle is for sharing, not automatically one person's serving. I want to know how much goes into each glass. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack's ingredients and allergen information; check any dietary label against the drink being served. | If a guest has an allergy, intolerance or ingredient requirement, I need to check their particular drink before pouring it. |
| Storage and leftovers | Check chilling requirements and the instructions for storage after opening. Compare a shared bottle with individually opened cans. | Will the group finish an opened bottle, or would separate cans leave less to store afterwards? |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating every fizzy fruit drink like a smoothie
Tesco describes its Mango Passion Fruit Smoothie as a blend of juices and purées. Sainsbury's lists Rubicon Sparkling Passionfruit as a carbonated soft drink containing 4% passion-fruit juice from concentrate.
Compare carbonation, ingredients, stated juice or purée content and sugars per 100ml before choosing a format.
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Planning a 750ml smoothie as one all-evening serving
The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. Tesco lists 11.0g sugars per 100ml for its Mango Passion Fruit Smoothie.
Plan how many glasses the bottle will fill and offer water as another drink.
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Opening a large bottle without a leftovers plan
Post-opening instructions differ: Tesco says to consume its checked smoothie within 3 days, while M&S gives 4 days for its checked smoothie.
Read the chosen bottle's refrigeration and use-within instructions, or consider separate servings if a large bottle is unlikely to be finished.
An opened bottle may go to waste if its remaining contents cannot be used within the stated period.
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Relying on an online description when serving guests
Ingredients and product information can change, making an earlier listing an unreliable substitute for the pack in hand.
Before serving, read the current ingredients, allergen information, nutrition panel and storage instructions on that pack.
Brands and retailers to consider
These examples show how still smoothies and sparkling fruit drinks appear in different ranges; check the exact product rather than treating a brand name as a drink format.
innocent
A reference point for still fruit-and-vegetable smoothies.
- innocent says its smoothies use crushed fruit and vegetables and have no added sugar.
- Check the ingredients and serving size of the particular bottle for your guests.
Tesco
Its Mango Passion Fruit Smoothie is a 750ml still option for sharing.
- Tesco describes the drink as a blend of juices and purées.
- The listed smoothie contains 11.0g sugars per 100ml and needs refrigeration after opening.
Sainsbury's
Its listings include a 750ml own-label smoothie and a separate Rubicon sparkling passion-fruit drink in cans.
- Those formats give hosts a choice between shared pours and individual cans.
- The Rubicon drink is a carbonated soft drink, not a smoothie; its listing states 4% passion-fruit juice from concentrate.
M&S
Its 750ml Mango, Pineapple and Passion Fruit Smoothie is a still juice-and-purée blend.
- M&S lists apple and pineapple juice alongside banana, mango and pineapple purées.
- The checked bottle is not sparkling; read its current label and storage instructions.
Waitrose
Its sparkling juice-drink range includes bottles and multipacks for different serving plans.
- Waitrose describes No.1 Citrus Spritz as a lightly sparkling 750ml drink.
- The Citrus Spritz contains carbonated water, sugar and stated juice components; it is not a fruit-purée smoothie.
Naked
A branded still-smoothie option in Sainsbury's checked listings.
- Sainsbury's lists Green Machine and Blue Machine Super Smoothies in 750ml bottles.
- Check the exact product listing if fizz is important; these listed options are smoothies.
Joybuy drink options
These options cover sparkling fruit drinks for fizz and smaller still smoothies for guests who prefer that format. The smoothies shown here are individual-size bottles rather than large bottles for sharing.
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Appletiser 100% Apple Juice Lightly Sparkling 6x250ml
Six 250ml cans offer separate sparkling apple-juice servings. Check the current pack's nutrition information when comparing drinks.
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De Vina Sparkling White Grape 750ml
A 750ml sparkling bottle for pouring into several glasses. It contains sulphites; check the pack against guests' needs, open the pressurised bottle carefully and follow its instructions for refrigerating leftovers.
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De Vina Sparkling Peach 750ml
This 750ml sparkling peach drink can be shared between glasses. It contains sulphites; check the current pack and refrigerate any leftovers as directed.
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Nootz Coconut Milk Smoothie Papaya 180ml
A 180ml still smoothie for someone who wants their own bottle rather than a shared fizzy drink. It contains coconut milk; check the pack's ingredients and follow its instructions for storage after opening.
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Nootz Coconut Milk Smoothie Passion Fruit 325ml
A 325ml still smoothie with coconut milk and passion fruit, suited to pouring smaller servings rather than sharing a large bottle. Check the current pack's ingredients, nutrition panel and storage instructions before serving.
Questions before you serve
Is a sparkling fruit drink the same as a smoothie?
No. Tesco describes its checked smoothie as a blend of juices and fruit purées, while the checked Waitrose Citrus Spritz and Sainsbury's Rubicon drinks are carbonated soft drinks. Choose by the format and ingredient list, not the fruit flavour alone.
How should I plan servings from a large smoothie bottle?
Plan individual pours rather than treating the whole bottle as one serving. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day, so consider what else guests may have had and offer water too.
What if a guest has an allergy or intolerance?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before serving it. A fruit flavour or vegan label does not replace a check against that guest's particular requirements.
How long can I keep an opened bottle?
Follow the chosen bottle's instructions. Tesco says to refrigerate its checked smoothie and consume it within 3 days of opening; the checked M&S smoothie gives 4 days. Do not apply either period to a different drink without checking its label.