Shoppers who want plain water
Choose still water if you prefer it without fizz, or sparkling water if you want carbonation without fruit flavour. Pick a bottle size that suits what you need to carry.
Who is each option for?
Shoppers who want fruit flavour
Check the exact no-added-sugar or sugar-free variant rather than assuming every flavour in a range is the same. Read the ingredients if sweeteners or acids affect your choice.
Households topping up at home
A larger bottle or multipack may suit several people or repeated use. Compare the displayed price per litre, then consider where you will store the pack.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether you want plain water, carbonation or flavour before comparing pack sizes. For a flavoured drink, check its claim and ingredients on the exact product.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Plain or flavoured | Check whether the bottle is plain still water, plain sparkling water or a flavoured drink. For sparkling water, check that you want carbonation. | I want water without added flavourings or sweeteners; whether it has fizz is a matter of preference. |
| Sugar claim | For flavoured water, find the claim on the exact variant and read its nutrition panel. Do not treat “low sugar”, “no added sugar” and “sugar free” as interchangeable. | Fruit flavour appeals to me, but I want to know which sugar claim applies to the bottle I am buying. |
| Other ingredients | Read the ingredients list for sweeteners, acids and preservatives if you prefer to avoid them. Volvic lists sweeteners for its Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free 1.5L product. | Even if a drink is labelled sugar free, I may prefer plain water to a sweetened flavoured drink. |
| Pack format | Compare bottle volume, multipack count and the displayed price per litre. Check that the pack is available and practical to carry or store. | A small bottle suits an immediate top-up; for home use, I may have room for a larger bottle or multipack. |
What can catch you out?
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Assuming “no added sugar” means no sweeteners
A flavoured drink can carry a no-added-sugar claim and still contain sweeteners. Its sugar claim alone will not answer an ingredient preference.
Read both the nutrition panel and ingredients list. Choose plain water if you want to avoid flavoured-water ingredients altogether.
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Picking the regular version of a sugar-free range
Volvic describes its regular Touch of Fruit Strawberry product as low sugar and says it contains sugar and stevia leaf extract. That is a different choice from its Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free variant.
Check the full product name and claim on the bottle, including the variant, before putting it in your basket.
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Relying on a particular flavour or pack being available
A planned top-up depends on what your local shop or delivery service has when you buy.
Check the current shelf or product page before planning around a specific flavour, size or multipack.
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Comparing pack prices without comparing volume
A smaller pack can cost less at the till without costing less per litre.
Use the displayed price per litre to compare sizes, then buy an amount you can carry, store and use.
Brands and ranges to check
Highland Spring
Its range offers a choice between plain sparkling water and flavoured still water.
- Highland Spring describes its flavoured still range as having no added sugar.
- Check the particular flavour and bottle label if its ingredients matter to you.
Evian
A plain natural mineral-water option for shoppers who do not need fruit flavour.
- Evian describes its natural mineral water as having no extra additives or enhancements.
- Check whether the particular bottle is still or sparkling when choosing for a top-up.
Volvic
Offers plain natural mineral water and separate flavoured Touch of Fruit products.
- Volvic reports 0g sugars for its Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free 1.5L product.
- That product lists acesulfame K and sucralose; check the variant if you want to avoid sweeteners.
Buxton
A plain natural mineral-water choice when flavour is not required.
- Buxton describes its still water as containing naturally occurring minerals.
- Choose the still or sparkling format to match your preference rather than assuming the bottles are interchangeable.
Tesco
Its own-label range includes a no-added-sugar flavoured still-water drink.
- Tesco describes its Orange Still Water No Added Sugar 4x250ml as an orange-and-pineapple drink with sweetener.
- Check the current product and local availability if you need that exact flavour and pack.
Sainsbury's
Its own-label listings include no-added-sugar flavoured still and sparkling drinks.
- Sainsbury's describes its Strawberry & Kiwi 1L still drink as no added sugar and made with sweetener.
- Check the current label for the ingredients of the flavour and format you choose.
Joybuy bottled-water options
These options cover plain still and sparkling water alongside strawberry-flavoured sugar-free water. The bottle and multipack sizes suit different carrying and home top-up needs.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free Water 6x500ml
A strawberry-flavoured choice when you want smaller bottles for a top-up. The pack contains six 500ml bottles; check the ingredients if you prefer to avoid sweeteners or acids.
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Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Still Water 1.25L
A single 1.25L bottle if you want still water with strawberry flavour rather than a multipack. Check the current ingredients label if sweeteners or other added ingredients affect your choice.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8x500ml
Choose this plain-water format if you want carbonation instead of fruit flavour. It contains eight 500ml bottles, so consider the whole pack as well as the size of each bottle.
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evian Mineral Water 6x500ml
A plain mineral-water option in six 500ml bottles for carrying or using across several occasions. Check the bottle label if you need to confirm the exact water type or ingredients.
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Highland Spring Still Water 6x1.5 L
A plain still-water pack for topping up at home rather than carrying one small bottle. Six 1.5 L bottles make 9 L in total, so check that you have room to store the pack.
Common questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a flavoured water has no sugar?
No. “No added sugar” and “sugar free” are different claims; one does not establish that the other applies. Check the nutrition panel and ingredients on the exact bottle rather than relying on the front label alone.
Can no-added-sugar flavoured water contain sweeteners?
Yes. Tesco and Sainsbury's describe some of their no-added-sugar flavoured waters as drinks with sweetener. If you also want to avoid sweeteners, read the ingredients or choose plain water.
Should I buy still or sparkling water for a top-up?
Choose plain still water if you do not want fizz, or plain sparkling water if you do. If you are considering a flavoured sparkling drink instead, check its sugar claim and ingredients separately.
Which bottle size makes sense for a top-up shop?
A smaller bottle is easier to carry for immediate use, while a larger bottle or multipack may suit a home top-up if you have storage space. Compare the current price per litre across the sizes available to you, not just the pack price.