Picnic shoppers avoiding added sugar
You want to tell plain water apart from flavoured drinks, including low-sugar products that still have sugar in their ingredients.
Who is this for?
Families packing individual lunches
You are choosing bottles that can be carried and handed out separately, rather than one larger bottle that needs cups for sharing.
People who prefer flavoured water
You want fruit flavour but also want to know whether the exact drink lists sugars, sweeteners or other flavouring ingredients.
What should you check?
Start with the type of drink, then read the label and choose a bottle format that fits how your picnic drinks will be carried and shared.
Plain still or sparkling water
Choose it when: You want water without fruit flavour or sweeteners; decide separately whether you want fizz.
Bear in mind: It will not provide the fruit flavour you may want with lunch.
Sugar-free flavoured water
Choose it when: Fruit flavour matters and the exact product's sugar-free label and ingredients suit you.
Bear in mind: Volvic's Sugar Free Lemon & Lime example contains sweeteners, citric acid and flavourings, so it is not interchangeable with plain water.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredient list for sugar and check the sugars figure per 100ml. Do not treat a low-sugar description as a no-added-sugar claim: Volvic lists sugar at 2.3% in its Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime 500ml drink. | I want a picnic drink without added sugar, not simply one described as low sugar. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check the exact flavoured-water variety for sweeteners, acids and flavourings as well as its sugar-free wording. Volvic lists acesulfame K and sucralose in its Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750ml drink. | Fruit flavour appeals to me, but I want to know what else is in the bottle. |
| Bottle format | Check bottle size, pack quantity and cap type. Highland Spring lists still-water bottles from 330ml to 2L, with screw or sports caps for its 330ml, 500ml and 750ml formats. | For separate lunches, I would rather hand out individual bottles; for group sharing, I can plan for cups and a larger bottle. |
| Picnic packing | Plan how to keep foods that normally need refrigeration cool. Food Standards Agency picnic guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales suggests ice or frozen gel packs and separating frequently accessed drinks where practical. | Drinks will be taken out during lunch, so I need a way to keep chilled food cool while the picnic is in use. |
Picnic shopping pitfalls
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Reading “low sugar” as “no added sugar”
Volvic's Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime 500ml lists sugar at 2.3% in its ingredients and 2.3g sugars per 100ml.
For a no-added-sugar choice, read the ingredients on the exact bottle rather than relying on a low-sugar description.
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Assuming sugar-free flavoured water is plain water
Volvic's Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750ml lists sweeteners, citric acid and flavouring among its ingredients.
If you do not want sweeteners or flavourings, choose plain water and check its label. Otherwise, compare flavoured drinks by their individual ingredient lists.
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Opening the food cool box for every drink
Repeated access makes it harder to keep foods that normally need refrigeration cool. The Food Standards Agency advises separating drinks from perishable picnic food where practical.
Pack chilled food with ice or frozen gel packs, keep the cool box in shade and consider a separate bag or cool box for drinks.
Brand and product-range references
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists still spring water in 330ml, 500ml, 750ml, 1.5L and 2L bottles.
- Its listed sizes cover both individual bottles and larger bottles for planned sharing.
- Check the exact pack for its bottle count and cap type; the listed 1.5L and 2L formats have screw caps.
Buxton
Buxton lists still natural mineral water in 500ml, 750ml, 1L and 1.5L formats.
- The still-water range offers sizes for either an individual lunch or group sharing.
- These format details concern Buxton's still-water range; check the label when choosing a different variety.
Volvic
Volvic offers plain natural mineral water and Touch of Fruit flavoured drinks, including sugar-free varieties.
- Its Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750ml product offers a flavoured option and lists sweeteners in its ingredients.
- Volvic's separate Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime 500ml lists added sugar; check the full variety name and ingredients.
evian
Sainsbury's lists an evian natural mineral still water bottle in a 500ml format.
- The listed 500ml bottle is an individual format for carrying with lunch.
- Check the pack quantity when buying for more than one person.
Joybuy options for picnic drinks
These options include sparkling water in individual bottles, a larger still-water multipack and a sugar-free strawberry-flavoured water. Choose by flavour, bottle size and the ingredients on the exact pack.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6 × 0.5L
Six 0.5L bottles provide separate picnic drinks if everyone wants sparkling rather than still water. Check the pack label if you need to confirm its ingredients.
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Buxton Sparkling Water, 8 × 500ml
Eight 500ml bottles can be distributed as individual picnic drinks. This is the sparkling variety, so check that fizz suits the people you are packing for.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free, 6 × 500ml
The six individual bottles are a flavoured choice for picnic lunches. If you want to avoid sweeteners or require a specific no-added-sugar claim, check the ingredients and wording on this strawberry variety's pack.
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Highland Spring Still Water, 4 × 6 × 1.5L
These 1.5L bottles suit planned group sharing more than carrying a separate drink with each lunch. The listing describes four packs of six bottles; arrange cups if people will share them.
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evian Mineral Water, 6 × 500ml
Six 500ml bottles provide individual portions for a picnic lunch. Check the exact pack label if you need to confirm its ingredients and no-added-sugar status.
Frequently asked questions
Do “no added sugar” and “sugar free” mean the same thing?
No. “No added sugar” concerns ingredients added to the drink, while “sugar free” concerns its sugar content. If either distinction matters to you, check both the claim and the ingredients on the exact bottle.
Can low-sugar flavoured water contain added sugar?
Yes. Volvic lists sugar at 2.3% in the ingredients of its Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime 500ml drink, alongside 2.3g sugars per 100ml. A low-sugar description is not a substitute for reading the ingredient list.
Does sugar-free flavoured water contain only water and fruit?
Not necessarily. Volvic's Sugar Free Lemon & Lime 750ml lists citric acid, flavouring and sweeteners. Choose plain water if you do not want those ingredients, and check each flavoured variety separately.
What bottle size works for a picnic lunch?
An individual 330ml to 750ml bottle can be carried with one person's lunch; a larger bottle suits planned sharing if you bring cups. Highland Spring lists both individual formats and 1.5L and 2L still-water bottles, while Buxton lists still water from 500ml to 1.5L.
How should drinks be packed alongside chilled picnic food?
Keep food that normally needs refrigeration cool. Food Standards Agency picnic guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales recommends a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs and suggests separating drinks from perishable foods where practical, because drinks are accessed more often.