Choose no-added-sugar or diet squash if cutting down on free sugars is the priority for your BBQ drinks table: the NHS names these as alternatives to sugary squash. If you are considering a higher-fruit no-added-sugar drink or standard squash instead, compare nutrition after dilution and check the exact bottle’s ingredients and serving instructions before offering it to guests.
If you want an alternative to sugary squash alongside water, compare the nutrition of the prepared drink rather than relying on the wording on the front of the bottle. The NHS includes sugar-free, diet and no-added-sugar drinks among alternatives to sugary squash.
Choose a bottle with preparation instructions you can follow for each serving. Check its age-related directions before making drinks for younger children rather than assuming every squash has the same guidance.
Read the label of the exact bottle you plan to serve. Ingredients differ between no-added-sugar products: the M&S Apple & Blackcurrant listing on Ocado identifies sulphites, while Tesco Groceries lists barley in Vimto No Added Sugar Squash.
Decide whether reducing free sugars, choosing a particular fruit content or accommodating guests’ ingredients matters most; then compare bottles on the same prepared-drink basis.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Check whether the bottle says no added sugar, diet or sugar-free. Compare total sugars in the drink after dilution; no added sugar does not mean zero sugars. | I want a flavoured option when cutting down on sugary squash. The NHS names sugar-free, diet and no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives. |
| Prepared-drink nutrition | Use the same basis, such as per 250ml diluted, and note the stated mixing ratio. Ocado lists 0.8g sugars and 5 kcal for M&S Apple & Blackcurrant Double Strength, versus 2.8g sugars and 15 kcal for M&S Mediterranean Orange High Juice, per prepared 250ml serving. | If I am choosing between no-added-sugar bottles, I want to see what is in the glass, not just compare their front labels or fruit percentages. |
| Guest ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant. Check named sweeteners and ingredients relevant to guests; the Ocado M&S Apple & Blackcurrant listing identifies sulphites, and Tesco Groceries identifies barley in Vimto No Added Sugar Squash. | Someone at the BBQ may need to check an ingredient before accepting a drink, so I will keep the bottle available. |
| Servings and dilution | Check the bottle’s labelled servings and mixing directions before estimating jug quantities. Waitrose & Partners lists 40 servings and a 1:9 squash-to-water direction for Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits; Tesco Groceries gives a 1:4 direction for Vimto No Added Sugar Squash. | I need enough prepared drinks for the gathering and a dilution method I can follow consistently. |
| Standard squash | Check its sugars per prepared serving and follow its own dilution directions. Do not treat its concentrate figures as directly comparable with a prepared no-added-sugar drink. | If a guest prefers standard squash, I can offer it without assuming it meets the same lower-free-sugar aim. The NHS advises alternatives to sugary squash when cutting down on sugar. |
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars to a prepared drink. Ocado lists 2.8g sugars per diluted 250ml serving for M&S Mediterranean Orange High Juice and 0.8g for M&S Apple & Blackcurrant Double Strength; both are listed as no added sugar.
Compare the nutrition panel for the diluted drink when choosing between bottles.
Concentrates have different mixing directions, so bottles of similar volume need not make the same number of glasses.
Use each bottle’s labelled servings and dilution instructions to plan how much to prepare for guests.
A no-added-sugar claim does not identify every sweetener or allergen. Product listings include sulphites in M&S Apple & Blackcurrant squash and barley in Vimto No Added Sugar Squash.
Keep the current bottle or a clear photograph of its label available so guests can check ingredients for themselves.
A large bottle may remain in use after the BBQ, and storage directions are product-specific.
Check the exact bottle’s storage and after-opening instructions when deciding how much to buy.
These examples illustrate differences between named products and ranges; check the current label for the variant you choose.
The Double Strength Summer Fruits No Added Sugar squash listed by Waitrose & Partners is a concentrated option for planning prepared servings.
Tesco Groceries lists own-label no-added-sugar squash, including a quadruple-strength Cherries & Berries variant.
Ocado lists both M&S Apple & Blackcurrant Double Strength squash and Mediterranean Orange High Juice as no-added-sugar options.
Waitrose & Partners lists Essential No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash in a 1.5L bottle.
Tesco Groceries lists Vimto No Added Sugar Squash with a 1:4 squash-to-water direction.
These no-added-sugar squash options are for hosts considering flavoured drinks for a summer BBQ. Use each bottle’s own label to compare prepared servings and ingredients.
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The six-bottle pack offers separate bottles for a gathering. Follow the pack’s dilution directions and check the ingredient label for guests who need to avoid sulphites or particular sweeteners.
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An orange-flavoured option for a no-added-sugar drinks table. Check the bottle’s dilution and serving directions when planning quantities, and read its ingredients if sulphites or sweeteners matter to guests.
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A single-bottle summer-fruit option. Joybuy lists 2 kcal per 100ml diluted for this product; follow the bottle’s mixing instructions and check its current ingredients before serving.
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A blackcurrant concentrate in a 1.5L bottle. Follow its preparation directions; nutrition stated for undiluted squash should not be read as the nutrition of a prepared glass. Check the current label for ingredient and age-related guidance.
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The six-bottle pack offers a pineapple and passion fruit option for a gathering. Check the bottle’s dilution directions before making a jug; figures for undiluted squash are not prepared-serving figures. Read the current ingredients if guests need to avoid sulphites or particular sweeteners.
No. A no-added-sugar squash can still show sugars from its ingredients on the nutrition panel. For example, Ocado lists 0.8g sugars per diluted 250ml serving for M&S Apple & Blackcurrant Double Strength and 2.8g for M&S Mediterranean Orange High Juice.
Choose a no-added-sugar or diet option rather than assuming standard sugary squash meets that aim. The NHS identifies sugar-free, diet and no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives to sugary squash; check the chosen bottle’s diluted nutrition and ingredients as well.
Compare drinks after dilution, using the same serving size or per-100ml basis. Mixing directions differ: Waitrose & Partners gives a 1:9 squash-to-water direction for Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits, while Tesco Groceries gives 1:4 for Vimto No Added Sugar Squash.
Show them the current label of the exact bottle before serving it. Recipes differ: Ocado identifies sulphites in M&S Apple & Blackcurrant squash, while Tesco Groceries lists barley in Vimto No Added Sugar Squash.
Follow the exact product’s age-related and dilution instructions rather than applying one mixing rule to every squash. Check those directions before preparing drinks for young children, and do not assume a squash is suitable for babies.