Volunteers running a drinks station
Bottled cordial can work when you have water, cups and someone to mix and serve it. Check the chosen bottle’s dilution directions and how it must be stored after opening.
Who each format suits
Sellers handing out individual drinks
Ready-to-drink cans suit a setup without measuring or cups. Check the number of cans and the volume of each one against the drinks you intend to provide.
Organisers supplying refreshments
Keep product packaging available for ingredient checks, and ask the relevant local authority which food-business or event requirements apply to the planned activity. Business Companion notes that requirements at car boot sales differ with the circumstances.
What to check before buying
Bottled cordial mixed on site
Choose it when: You can provide water, cups and a staffed serving point.
Allow for: Mixing each drink and following the bottle’s instructions once it is open.
Ready-to-drink multipack cans
Choose them when: Each visitor needs a sealed drink that can be handed over without dilution.
Allow for: Storing the number of individual cans you expect to serve; check the pack if you intend to serve them chilled.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving format | Confirm whether the drink is a concentrate or ready to drink. For cans, check the count and volume per can. | I want to hand each visitor a sealed drink, or I have space and help to serve drinks from a shared station. |
| Dilution and yield | Read the exact bottle’s ratio and serving information before calculating water and cups. Tesco Groceries lists 14 diluted servings for Robinsons Elderflower 500ml at one part concentrate to six parts water; Waitrose & Partners suggests one part cordial to four parts water for its Raspberry & Pomegranate cordial. | If I use cordial, I need enough water and cups for the servings I plan to make, rather than relying on bottle size alone. |
| Storage | Check the chosen product’s storage directions, including after opening. Marks & Spencer instructs buyers to refrigerate its Elderflower Cordial once opened and consume it within two weeks. | Can I follow the bottle’s opened-storage instructions during the event and afterwards? |
| Ingredients and labels | Read the current ingredients, allergen declaration and sugar or sweetener information on each flavour. Keep the packaging available when serving. | I want visitors to be able to check what is in the particular drink they receive, rather than relying on its flavour or a front-of-pack description. |
| Event arrangements | Ask the relevant local authority what requirements apply to your location and whether the planned selling or supplying activity needs food-business registration. Check any organiser conditions too. | I plan to supply drinks at a car boot sale and need to know which arrangements apply before the event. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Buying cordial when you need a sealed can per visitor
Cordial must be diluted and served; it cannot take the place of an individual ready-to-drink can without a serving setup.
Decide how drinks will be handed out before choosing between bottled concentrate and multipack cans.
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Assuming equal-sized cordial bottles make equal amounts
Dilution directions vary. Tesco Groceries lists a one-to-six concentrate-to-water ratio for Robinsons Elderflower, while Waitrose & Partners suggests one-to-four for its Raspberry & Pomegranate cordial.
Work out servings and the water required from the label of the bottle you buy.
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Putting the bottle away without checking its label
Opened-storage instructions and ingredients matter when several people share a drink station. Marks & Spencer says to refrigerate its Elderflower Cordial after opening.
Follow the purchased bottle’s storage directions and keep its packaging available for ingredient and allergen checks.
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Assuming every car boot sale has the same selling rules
Business Companion notes that requirements at car boot sales differ with the circumstances, so the event label alone does not settle what applies to a seller.
Ask the relevant local authority about your planned activity and check the organiser’s conditions before supplying drinks.
Brand and retailer references
Robinsons
Robinsons describes its Fruit Cordials as bottled drinks. Tesco Groceries lists a 500ml Elderflower concentrate intended for dilution.
- The listed Elderflower bottle states 14 diluted servings at one part concentrate to six parts water.
- This bottled format requires water and serving equipment rather than providing sealed individual cans. Check the flavour’s current label.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries has separate cordial and multipack soft-drink categories, which helps distinguish concentrate from ready-to-drink packs.
- Its multipack soft-drink listing includes cans, such as a Fanta 24 × 330ml pack.
- Check each product’s own format and label rather than treating the two categories as interchangeable.
M&S
Marks & Spencer describes its cordials as drinks to dilute with still or sparkling water.
- Its Elderflower Cordial listing gives an opened-bottle storage instruction.
- The cordial needs dilution and is not an individually sealed multipack can; follow the particular bottle’s label.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists cordials with product-specific dilution information, including Raspberry & Pomegranate.
- That cordial suggests one part cordial to four parts water and states a prepared yield of 2.5 litres.
- Use the directions and ingredients for the flavour purchased; a bottled concentrate does not provide ready-to-hand-out cans.
Ready-to-drink cans on Joybuy
These multipacks suit the sealed, individual-drink route for a car boot sale. They are ready-to-drink soft drinks, not cordial concentrates.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 × 330ml cans
A 24-can pack for handing out individual drinks without mixing. Check the current can label for ingredients and arrange cooling if you intend to serve it chilled.
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J2O Orange & Passion Fruit Blend 4 × 250ml cans
Four individual 250ml cans avoid on-site dilution and cups. Check the current ingredients and make cooling arrangements if serving them chilled.
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J2O Sparkling Apple & Mango 4 × 250ml cans
This four-pack provides separate 250ml drinks without a mixing station. Check the current label for ingredients and plan cooling if you want to serve the cans chilled.
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Coca-Cola Original Taste 24 × 330ml cans
A 24-can pack for individual hand-outs without dilution. Check the current can label for ingredients, including sugar, and arrange cooling if serving chilled.
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J2O Sparkling Apple & Raspberry 4 × 250ml cans
Four individual 250ml cans can be handed out without measuring or mixing. Keep the label available for ingredient checks and plan cooling if serving them chilled.
Frequently asked questions
Are cordial and multipack cans the same sort of drink?
No. The Robinsons cordial listed by Tesco Groceries is a concentrate with dilution instructions, while Tesco’s multipack soft-drink category includes ready-to-drink cans. Choose according to whether you can mix and serve drinks or need sealed individual portions.
How many drinks will a bottle of cordial make?
Use the purchased bottle’s directions rather than a rule for all cordials. Tesco Groceries lists 14 diluted servings for Robinsons Elderflower 500ml at one part concentrate to six parts water; Waitrose & Partners gives a 2.5-litre prepared yield for its Raspberry & Pomegranate cordial using one part cordial to four parts water.
What ingredient information should be available when serving drinks?
Keep the original packaging available so visitors can check the current ingredients and allergen declaration for the drink offered. GOV.UK guidance for community and charity events in England, Northern Ireland and Wales recommends retaining prepacked-food packaging for this purpose; check the requirements that apply to your own event.
Should I check registration rules before selling drinks at a car boot sale?
Yes. Ask the relevant local authority whether your planned activity requires food-business registration, and check any organiser conditions before the event. Business Companion notes that requirements at car boot sales vary with the circumstances; the answer for an individual seller depends on their activity and location.