Hosts serving different tastes
If some guests prefer still water and others want fizz, offering both plain formats avoids relying on a single drink to suit everyone. Check how much you expect to serve before choosing large bottles or a multipack.
Who is choosing?
Guests who want flavour while checking sugars
A fruit-flavoured water may suit someone who wants a sweet-tasting drink. Read the nutrition panel and ingredients separately, particularly if sweeteners, acids or other additions matter to them.
Shoppers comparing plain waters
If you prefer unflavoured water, check whether a bottle is still or sparkling and whether it is described as spring or natural mineral water. Compare the stated mineral composition when that distinction matters to your choice.
What should you check?
Decide which drinks guests will want on the table, then check the label and pack size before buying.
Plain still water
Choose it when: You want an unflavoured table drink that suits guests who prefer no fizz.
Bear in mind: It will not meet a preference for carbonation or fruit flavour.
Plain sparkling water
Choose it when: Guests want fizz without choosing a flavoured drink.
Bear in mind: Keep a still option available if you do not know everyone's preference.
Sugar-free flavoured water
Choose it when: Someone specifically wants fruit flavour while checking the drink's declared sugars.
Bear in mind: Flavoured products can contain sweeteners and other ingredients absent from plain water.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare sugars using the same stated measure, such as per 100ml or per serving. Read the full list for sweeteners, acids, flavourings and preservatives; check whether the drink is plain or flavoured. | I want to know whether I am serving plain water or a flavoured drink, rather than deciding from the words 'sugar free' or 'no added sugar' alone. |
| Still or sparkling | Check the product description for still or carbonated water. If choosing fizz without fruit flavour, check that it is plain sparkling water rather than a flavoured drink. | Some friends may want fizz while others prefer still water, so I would offer both when their preferences are unknown. |
| Pack and storage | Check the net quantity and number of bottles, then read each product's directions for storage after opening. Highland Spring lists 1.5L and 6 x 1L sparkling formats; Tesco lists a 2L still bottle. | I want enough water for the table without opening more bottles than we are likely to use. |
| Water description | Check whether the label says spring water or natural mineral water, and compare any stated mineral composition. Defra's guidance, updated 29 June 2026, sets source, purity and stable-composition conditions for products described as natural mineral water in England. | If I am choosing an unflavoured mineral water, I would compare what each bottle actually says rather than assume all waters have the same composition. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating sugar-free flavoured water as plain water
Volvic's Touch of Fruit Mango Passion Sugar Free lists 0g sugars per 250ml serving, but its ingredients also include citric acid, flavourings, a preservative and sweeteners. A sugar declaration does not describe the whole ingredient list.
Read the nutrition panel and ingredients together. If guests want an unflavoured drink, choose a bottle labelled as plain still or plain sparkling water.
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Buying only sparkling water for the group
Carbonation is a matter of preference; a sparkling-only selection leaves guests who want still water without that option.
When tastes are unknown, put out plain still water alongside the sparkling bottle.
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Choosing a large bottle without checking storage
Directions vary by product. Tesco says its 2L still natural mineral water should be refrigerated after opening and consumed within three days.
Match the pack to the group and follow the directions on the bottle you open, rather than applying Tesco's period to another water.
Opening more water than the group will use may leave bottles unfinished within their stated storage period.
Brand references
These ranges illustrate different water types and label details; a brand may sell both plain and flavoured products.
Highland Spring
Its plain sparkling range and separate sugar-free flavoured still-water range serve different preferences.
- Highland Spring lists 500ml, 1.5L and 6 x 1L formats for its plain sparkling water.
- Its sugar-free flavoured waters are not the same product type as its plain sparkling water; check the chosen bottle's ingredients.
Evian
A plain natural mineral water for shoppers interested in the composition stated by the brand.
- Evian's UK page lists calcium at 80mg/L and magnesium at 26mg/L for its water.
- Those figures describe Evian's water, not bottled mineral water in general.
Volvic
Its range includes plain natural mineral water and separate sugar-free flavoured drinks.
- Volvic lists mineral values for its plain water and 0g sugars per 250ml serving for Touch of Fruit Mango Passion Sugar Free.
- The Mango Passion flavoured product also lists citric acid, flavourings, a preservative and sweeteners; check the specific variant.
Buxton
A plain natural mineral-water range with still and sparkling options.
- Buxton lists sparkling pack formats including 1L x 6 and 500ml x 8.
- Its sparkling format will not suit a guest who prefers still water.
Tesco
Its British Natural Mineral Water Still 2L is a plain, large-bottle option for a brunch table.
- Tesco identifies the bottle as still natural mineral water and states its pack size as 2L.
- For this bottle, Tesco directs customers to refrigerate after opening and consume within three days; check the current label.
Sainsbury's
Its plain British still spring water and lemon-and-lime sparkling flavoured water are distinct choices.
- Sainsbury's lists a 2L bottle for its still spring water.
- Its no-added-sugar lemon-and-lime sparkling drink contains flavourings and sucralose; do not treat it as plain spring water.
Joybuy water options for brunch
These bottles cover plain still water, plain sparkling water and strawberry-flavoured sugar-free options. Compare the formats against the number of guests and their preferences.
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Highland Spring Strawberry Sugar Free Still Flavoured Water 6 x 1.25L
A still, strawberry-flavoured option for guests who want flavour rather than plain water. The listing states 0g sugars and lists sucralose, citric acid, flavourings and potassium sorbate; it also states that the product contains sulphites, so check the label if this matters to a guest. Refrigerate after opening and use within three days as directed on the listing.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6 x 1L
A plain fizzy choice for guests who prefer sparkling water. The six 1L bottles can be opened separately for serving; this format does not replace a still option for guests who dislike fizz. The listing directs customers to refrigerate after opening and use within seven days.
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White Rock Still Spring Water 6 x 2L
A plain still-water option in larger bottles for table serving. The listing identifies still spring water and states 0g sugars per 100ml. It directs customers to chill opened bottles at 0–4°C and consume within seven days; the bottles do not provide a fizzy option.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free Flavoured Water 6 x 500ml
Six individual still, strawberry-flavoured bottles suit guests who want a flavoured choice rather than a shared plain-water bottle. The listing states 0g sugars and lists citric acid, flavourings, potassium benzoate, sucralose and acesulfame K; it is not plain water.
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SAN PELLEGRINO Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 1L
A plain sparkling choice in six 1L bottles for guests who want fizz. The listing identifies natural mineral water and carbon dioxide as its ingredients and states 0g sugars. Check the bottle's directions when planning how to store it after opening.
Questions about brunch water
Should I serve still or sparkling water at brunch?
Offer plain still water and add plain sparkling water if guests enjoy fizz, particularly when their preferences differ. Check the bottle sizes against how much the group is likely to drink.
Does sugar-free flavoured water contain only water?
No. Volvic Touch of Fruit Mango Passion Sugar Free lists 0g sugars per 250ml serving, but also lists citric acid, flavourings, potassium benzoate, acesulfame K and sucralose. Read the ingredients if you want plain water or need to check a particular addition.
Does 'no added sugar' mean a flavoured drink is unsweetened?
Not necessarily. Sainsbury's describes its lemon-and-lime sparkling flavoured water as no added sugar, while its ingredient list includes the sweetener sucralose. Check both the nutrition panel and ingredients rather than treating the front-of-pack phrase as a description of the whole drink.
What does 'natural mineral water' mean on a bottle in England?
In England, the description is subject to source, purity and stable-composition conditions, and the composition must appear on the label, according to Defra guidance updated 29 June 2026. It identifies a regulated product description, not a reason to assume that one mineral profile suits every guest.