Choose 150ml cans if guests are likely to pick different drinks and you want to open a small portion at a time; Tesco Groceries lists Fever-Tree and Schweppes multipacks in that size. Choose 200ml bottles when your planned serves call for more mixer or you want flavours from a range such as Fentimans’ 200ml mixers. Start with mixers that suit the spirits on your table, then add distinctive flavours for guests who want them.
If guests will choose among gin, vodka, rum or other spirits, a small selection of mixer styles lets them choose a serve without opening a large bottle for each drink. Fentimans lists tonic, soda, ginger and lemonade styles; Fever-Tree suggests its Elderflower Tonic for fresh or floral gins and vodka.
Small portions let you open a mixer when someone chooses it. Tesco Groceries lists 150ml multipacks from Fever-Tree and Schweppes, while Fentimans describes a 200ml mixer format. Check which volume fits the drinks you plan to make.
If a guest has an allergy or intolerance, check the exact variant before serving it. GOV.UK says regulated allergens in prepacked drinks must be clearly labelled within the ingredients list.
Decide how much mixer each drink needs, then choose flavours and variants around the spirits and guests you expect.
Choose when: Guests may select different mixers and you want to open compact portions individually.
Consider: A 150ml can contains less mixer than a 200ml bottle, so check the volume needed for drinks with plenty of ice.
Choose when: Your planned drinks use more mixer or a flavour from Fentimans’ 200ml range suits the spirits being served.
Consider: A guest may not use the whole bottle, particularly if you offer several distinctive flavours.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check the volume of each container, not just the pack count. Tesco Groceries lists 150ml multipacks; Fentimans describes 200ml bottles. Britvic describes its 330ml Indian Tonic Water can as two serves. | If everyone chooses a different drink, I would rather open small portions as needed. If two guests want the same tonic, a shared can could also work. |
| Flavour | List the spirits you will serve, then choose suitable tonic, soda or ginger styles. Treat floral and citrus tonics as specific flavour choices: Fever-Tree suggests Elderflower Tonic for fresh or floral gins and vodka, while Fentimans suggests Pink Grapefruit Tonic for gin or vodka. | I want guests to have a straightforward option as well as a distinctive flavour that fits a drink on the menu. |
| Light variants | Compare the ingredients and nutrition information on the exact packs. Tesco Groceries lists Schweppes Slimline Tonic separately from its standard tonic; Fever-Tree presents regular and light Elderflower Tonics as separate variants. | Some guests may ask for a light or slimline tonic, but I would not assume they want it in place of the standard version. |
| Ingredients | Read each exact variant’s ingredients list when an allergy or intolerance matters. GOV.UK says regulated allergens present in prepacked drinks must be clearly labelled there. | Before serving a guest with an allergy or intolerance, I need to check the pack rather than rely on its brand or flavour name. |
A floral, citrus or ginger mixer may fit a particular drink without suiting every spirit or guest. Fentimans and Fever-Tree suggest different pairings for their flavoured tonics.
Choose a core of tonic or soda for the drinks planned, then add flavours that have a clear place on your menu.
Formats differ: Tesco Groceries lists 150ml multipacks, Fentimans describes 200ml bottles, and Britvic describes its 330ml tonic can as two serves.
Check millilitres per container against your planned pours before deciding how many packs you need.
These are distinct variants, and the front-of-pack name does not tell you everything about their ingredients or nutrition information.
Check the exact packs and offer the variants your guests want rather than substituting one without asking.
A brand name or familiar mixer flavour cannot establish whether an exact variant suits someone with an allergy or intolerance.
Ask guests about relevant requirements and inspect each pack’s ingredients list before serving. GOV.UK says regulated allergens in prepacked drinks must be clearly labelled in that list.
Tesco Groceries lists Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water and Light Mediterranean Tonic Water in 8 × 150ml packs.
Tesco Groceries lists 12 × 150ml packs of Schweppes tonic, slimline tonic, Canada Dry Ginger Ale and lemonade.
Fentimans announced a move to 200ml mixers in 2021 and lists tonic, soda, ginger and lemonade styles in its range.
Britvic described 200ml mixer bottles in a 2016 range announcement and introduced 330ml Indian Tonic Water cans in 2023.
These Joybuy options are 150ml tonic and ginger-ale multipacks for guests who want small mixer portions. Check the variant and, where relevant, the individual container type before buying.
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An Indian tonic option for a table serving gin, vodka or vermouth. The pack contains eight 150ml portions; check the exact label for guests with ingredient or dietary requirements.
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A light Mediterranean tonic to consider when its citrus and herbaceous flavour direction fits the planned drinks. It comes in eight 150ml portions; compare the exact pack’s ingredients and nutrition information with other variants.
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A slimline tonic option for guests who request that variant, in a pack of twelve 150ml cans. The listing identifies aspartame and a source of phenylalanine; check the exact pack label against guests’ requirements.
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A 12 × 150ml Indian tonic multipack to consider for gin or vodka serves. Its descriptions differ on whether the individual containers are cans or bottles, so confirm the container type before buying.
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A ginger-ale option for a menu that includes whisky or rum, in an 8 × 150ml format. Confirm the individual container type in the pack details and check the label for guests with ingredient requirements.
Choose 150ml cans when you want to open smaller portions for guests choosing different drinks; choose 200ml bottles when your planned serves need more mixer or a particular 200ml flavour fits the menu. Tesco Groceries lists 150ml Fever-Tree and Schweppes multipacks, while Fentimans describes a 200ml mixer range.
Start with styles that suit the spirits you plan to serve, then add distinctive flavours for specific drinks or guest preferences. Fentimans suggests Pink Grapefruit Tonic for gin or vodka, and Fever-Tree suggests its Elderflower Tonic for fresh or floral gins and vodka; those pairings are the brands’ own suggestions.
Yes, check the exact pack when a guest has an allergy or intolerance. GOV.UK says any of the 14 regulated allergens present as ingredients in prepacked drinks must be clearly labelled within the ingredients list.
Ask guests rather than assuming the variants are interchangeable, and compare their exact labels for ingredients and nutrition information. Tesco Groceries lists standard and Slimline Schweppes tonics separately, while Fever-Tree presents regular and light Elderflower Tonics as distinct variants.
Britvic describes its 330ml Indian Tonic Water can as providing two serves, not one individual mini portion. Consider that format when two guests want the same tonic and can share an opened can promptly.