Shoppers who want individual cans
If the can format matters, check that the multipack contains cans and read the sugars declaration on the exact drink. A bottled cordial is a different purchase, even if its label says ‘no added sugar’.
Who is each format for?
Cordial drinkers who can dilute at home
A bottled squash suits someone who wants to prepare a cordial-style drink and can follow the ratio on the bottle. The stated nutrition for a diluted serving applies to that preparation.
Shoppers considering portable fruit drinks
A ready-to-drink bottle needs no dilution, but ‘no added sugar’ does not mean it contains no sugars. Compare the full bottle as well as the per-100ml declaration.
What should you check first?
Sugar-free canned soft drink
Choose when: Individual cans are essential and you want to check a sugar-free claim on the exact pack.
Trade-off: This is a soft drink, not a cordial you dilute.
Ready-to-drink fruit drink
Choose when: A portable, non-fizzy bottle matters more than cans or dilution at home.
Trade-off: The Robinsons no-added-sugar bottles listed by Sainsbury’s still declare sugars.
Squash to dilute
Choose when: You specifically want a cordial-style drink to prepare at home.
Trade-off: A bottle is not portioned into cans, and its diluted nutrition figures depend on the stated mixing ratio.
Settle the format first, then compare the exact drink’s claim, nutrition and preparation instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claims | Read the precise claim, sugars and carbohydrate per 100ml, and the amount in the whole can or bottle. Check ingredients when comparing a fruit drink with a sugar-free soft drink. | I want to know what is in the whole drink, not assume ‘no added sugar’ means sugars-free. Sainsbury’s lists sugars in its no-added-sugar Robinsons ready-to-drink fruit drinks. |
| Pack and preparation | Confirm the container type, pack count and volume. For concentrate, follow the dilution ratio used for its nutrition declaration; ASDA lists 9 parts water to 1 part Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Concentrate. | If I need a can to take with me, a bottle of concentrate will not serve the same purpose. If I am making squash at home, I can use the bottle’s directions. |
| Everyday use | Keep an everyday drink choice separate from drinks used to treat a hypo. Diabetes UK recommends water as an all-round drink and sugar-free alternatives to sugary fizzy drinks outside hypo treatment. | For an ordinary drink, I want to check a sugar-free option rather than buy a sugary fizzy multipack for convenience. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugars-free’
Sainsbury’s lists 1g sugars per 100ml for one 500ml Robinsons ready-to-drink fruit drink and 1.8g per 100ml for its Blackberry & Blueberry drink. At those stated values, the full bottles contain 5g and 9g respectively.
Check both the per-100ml declaration and the whole-container amount, rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording.
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Treating cordial, bottled fruit drinks and canned soft drinks as one format
The Robinsons squash listed by ASDA requires dilution; Sainsbury’s ready-to-drink examples are bottles; and Tesco lists canned soft-drink multipacks. They meet different preparation and portability needs.
If cans are non-negotiable, check the container type before comparing flavours or nutrition.
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Buying sugary fizzy drinks for routine refreshment
Diabetes UK distinguishes ordinary drinks from sugary fizzy drinks used to treat a hypo.
Keep your hypo-treatment arrangements separate from everyday drink shopping; for routine refreshment, consider water or check a sugar-free alternative.
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Using diluted-squash figures for a differently mixed drink
ASDA gives 0g sugars per 250ml diluted serving for Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Concentrate, using 9 parts water to 1 part concentrate.
Follow the directions on the particular bottle, and reread its nutrition information if you change strength or flavour.
Relevant brands and retailers
Robinsons
Robinsons appears here in two distinct forms: squash to dilute and ready-to-drink fruit drinks in bottles.
- ASDA lists 0g sugars per 250ml diluted serving for Summer Fruits Double Concentrate when prepared at its stated 1:9 concentrate-to-water ratio.
- Sainsbury’s no-added-sugar ready-to-drink examples still declare sugars; check the particular bottle rather than applying the squash figures to it.
Tesco
Tesco’s fizzy-drinks listing includes own-label canned multipacks, such as Diet Lemonade Cans 6x330ml and Orange Zero Cans 6x330ml.
- The listing offers a can-format route for shoppers who do not require cordial.
- Check the exact product’s current nutrition declaration and ingredients before choosing it.
Volvic
Waitrose lists Volvic Sugar Free Touch of Fruit Strawberry 6x500ml among water multipacks.
- It is a flavoured-water multipack to consider if bottles suit your plans.
- It is a bottle multipack, not cans; check the individual product label for nutrition and ingredients.
Canned soft-drink options on Joybuy
These are canned soft-drink multipacks for shoppers who want individual cans rather than cordial to dilute. Check each current pack label against your requirements.
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PEPSI Max 24 x 330ml
For individual drinks rather than squash to dilute, this is a 24 × 330ml cola multipack. It is fizzy cola with caffeine, not cordial; check the current can for nutrition and ingredients.
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Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 24 x 330ml
If you prefer a cola multipack to a cordial bottle, this option contains 24 × 330ml cans. It is fizzy cola with caffeine; compare the current can’s sugars, carbohydrate and ingredients.
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7UP Zero 330ml 24-pack
This 24 × 330ml can pack is a lemon-and-lime soft-drink option when cans matter more than cordial. It is carbonated, not a concentrate; check the current nutrition and ingredient label.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 x 330ml cans
For a fruit-flavoured can multipack rather than squash, this option contains 24 × 330ml cans. It is a carbonated soft drink, not cordial; check sugars and carbohydrate separately on the current can.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a drink contains no sugars?
No. Sainsbury’s lists sugars in its no-added-sugar Robinsons ready-to-drink fruit drinks: 1g per 100ml in one 500ml drink and 1.8g per 100ml in its Blackberry & Blueberry drink. Read the nutrition declaration for the exact product.
Are bottled cordial and canned soft drinks interchangeable?
No. The Robinsons squash listed by ASDA is concentrate to dilute, while Tesco’s canned multipacks are ready-to-drink soft drinks. If cans are essential, confirm the pack format as well as the drink’s label.
Are sugary fizzy drinks an everyday choice for someone with diabetes?
Diabetes UK advises choosing sugar-free alternatives for ordinary drinking and distinguishes sugary fizzy drinks used to treat a hypo. Keep any personal hypo-treatment arrangements in line with advice from your diabetes team.
Which nutrition figure applies to squash concentrate?
Use the figure for the preparation stated on the particular bottle. ASDA lists 0g sugars per 250ml diluted serving for Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Concentrate when mixed with 9 parts water to 1 part concentrate; another strength or flavour may have different directions.
What should I read on a canned multipack before buying?
Check the exact can’s claim, sugars and carbohydrate per 100ml and per can, serving size, ingredients and allergen information. A retailer category name is not a substitute for the product label.