Hosts serving different preferences
Keep plain still water available for guests who do not want fizz or flavour. Sparkling and flavoured bottles can add choice without asking one drink to suit everyone.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers who want fruit flavour without added sugar
Look for the claim on the exact flavour you intend to buy, then read its sugars-per-100-ml figure and ingredients. A flavoured drink may contain sweeteners even when it has no added sugar.
Hosts serving water at the table
Consider whether a larger bottle or a glass format suits the number of guests and the way you plan to serve drinks. For flavoured water, check the sugar claim separately from the bottle format.
What should you check before buying?
Decide which drinks your guests might choose, then check the label of any flavoured option and pick formats that work for the table.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact flavour’s no-added-sugar or sugar-free claim, sugars per 100 ml and ingredients. The two claims do not mean the same thing. | I want fruit flavour without assuming that a front-of-pack claim means the drink contains no sugars or other ingredients. |
| Still or sparkling | Check whether the bottle is still or carbonated; do not assume a flavoured choice will replace plain water. | Some guests may prefer a drink without fizz, while others would welcome a sparkling option alongside brunch. |
| Other ingredients | For flavoured water, look for sweeteners, acids, flavourings and preservatives in the exact variant’s ingredients list. | If I am serving guests with ingredient preferences, I want to know what is in the flavoured bottle as well as its sugar figure. |
| Serving format | Compare bottle volume with the number of guests and how you will serve the water. Highland Spring lists 330 ml and 750 ml glass bottles; Sainsbury’s lists a 1 L flavoured option. | I would rather pour from bottles that suit the table than rely on every guest opening an individual drink. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
A no-added-sugar claim does not, by itself, tell you that the drink contains zero sugars. Sugar-free is a separate claim.
Compare the sugars-per-100-ml figure and ingredients on the particular flavour and bottle you are buying.
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Assuming flavoured water contains no sweeteners
Volvic’s Lemon & Lime Sugar Free water and Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower no-added-sugar water both list sweeteners and citric acid in their ingredients.
Offer plain water if guests want an unflavoured choice, and inspect the ingredients before adding a flavoured bottle.
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Buying only sparkling water for the group
Fizz is a matter of preference; it will not suit every guest who wants water with brunch.
Keep still water as an option, then add sparkling or flavoured bottles according to the group’s likely preferences.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show why the exact range and variant matter: plain water, flavoured water and serving formats call for different checks.
Highland Spring
Offers plain still and sparkling water, flavoured still water and glass-bottle formats.
- Highland Spring states that its flavoured-still range has no added sugar and lists 0 g sugars per 100 ml.
- Flavoured water is not the same as plain water; check the chosen flavour’s ingredients if guests wish to avoid flavourings or sweeteners.
Volvic
Its Touch of Fruit range includes a sugar-free flavoured-water option.
- Volvic lists 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Touch of Fruit Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750 ml.
- That variant also lists citric acid, flavourings, potassium benzoate, acesulfame K and sucralose.
Buxton
A reference point for shoppers considering plain sparkling water.
- Buxton describes sparkling water as water with bubbles and notes that soda water may contain added minerals.
- Check the selected bottle’s label rather than applying that general distinction to every product.
Evian
A plain natural-mineral-water option for guests who do not want fruit flavour.
- Evian describes its natural mineral water as having no extra additives or enhancements.
- That brand description does not establish the ingredients or format of every Evian product; check the bottle selected.
Tesco
Its grocery range separates still, sparkling and flavoured-water categories.
- Tesco lists plain-water formats alongside flavoured and sugar-free product options.
- Check the exact product listing and label when choosing a flavour or pack size.
Sainsbury’s
Its Apple & Elderflower sparkling flavoured spring water provides a shareable no-added-sugar example.
- Sainsbury’s describes the 1 L product as no added sugar and lists less than 0.5 g sugars per 100 ml.
- Its ingredients include citric acid, flavouring, sweeteners and a preservative, so it is not plain water.
Joybuy bottled-water options
These Highland Spring options include a strawberry-flavoured still bottle and plain still or sparkling water in formats that could be shared at brunch. Check which styles your guests would actually want.
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Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Still Flavoured Water 1.25L
A still, strawberry-flavoured option if guests want something other than plain water. The 1.25 L bottle can be poured for a group; check its ingredients and sugars per 100 ml on the exact bottle.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6x1L
A plain sparkling choice for guests who prefer fizz to fruit flavour. The pack contains six 1 L bottles; keep a still option available for those who do not want carbonation.
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Highland Spring Still Water 10L
A plain still-water option when you need a larger volume for the group. Check whether a 10 L format suits your serving space and plans for pouring water at the table.
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Highland Spring Still Water 6x1.5 L
Plain still water in six 1.5 L bottles for serving several guests. It provides a non-fizzy choice alongside sparkling or flavoured drinks.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a drink contains no sugars?
No. “No added sugar” and “sugar-free” are different claims; neither is a reason to skip the nutrition panel. Check sugars per 100 ml and the ingredients of the exact flavoured water you choose.
Is sugar-free flavoured water the same as plain water?
No. Volvic’s Touch of Fruit Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750 ml lists citric acid, flavourings, a preservative and sweeteners alongside natural mineral water. Read the ingredients if those differences matter to your guests.
Should I serve still or sparkling water at brunch?
Offer still water as a plain, non-fizzy choice and add sparkling water if guests may want fizz. Neither format needs to stand in for everyone’s preference.
Can a flavoured 1 L bottle be shared?
Yes, if its volume suits the group. Sainsbury’s lists its no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower sparkling water in a 1 L bottle; check the chosen product’s ingredients as well as the serving format.
Do glass bottles tell me whether water has no added sugar?
No. Glass is a serving-format choice, not a sugar claim. Highland Spring lists still and sparkling glass water in 330 ml and 750 ml bottles; check a flavoured product’s own label separately.