People swapping a sweet dinner drink
Plain still water avoids flavoured-drink ingredients. Sugar-free flavoured water offers another route if taste matters to the swap, but check its sugars figure and ingredients.
Who is each option for?
People who prefer fruity water
Compare the exact recipe rather than the flavour name. Volvic UK lists 0g sugars per 250ml for its sugar-free Summer Fruits water, compared with 5.8g per 250ml for its Summer Fruits product.
People who regularly choose fizz
Sparkling water offers carbonation without choosing a sweetened soft drink. Buxton Water notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water; frequency and volume are worth considering if acidic drinks concern you.
What should you check?
Start with whether you want plain, flavoured or sparkling water. Then compare the label and bottle size for the amount you expect to serve with dinner.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read sugars per 100ml and per serving. Check the serving size against the amount you will pour; “low sugar” does not mean 0g. | I want a drink that adds no listed sugars to dinner. Volvic UK lists 0g sugars per 250ml for Sugar Free Summer Fruits and 5.8g per 250ml for its Summer Fruits product. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check the ingredient list for flavourings, sweeteners, acids and preservatives if those distinctions matter to you. Plain and flavoured water are different choices. | A fruity drink appeals to me, but I want to know what is in the particular bottle rather than relying on “sugar free” alone. |
| Still or sparkling | Check whether the water is still or sparkling. Buxton Water notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water. | I enjoy fizz with a meal, but if I drink it frequently and acidity concerns me, I may prefer still water more often. |
| Bottle size | Compare total volume, the amount you expect to use and the product’s storage instructions after opening. | For one dinner or a shared meal, I want a bottle or pack I can store and use according to its label. |
| Mineral water | If mineral composition matters to you, read the stated composition on the natural mineral-water label. England’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says it must be stated. | I prefer to compare the mineral information on the bottles rather than choose by source description alone. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “low sugar” as “zero sugar”
A low-sugar flavoured drink can still add sugar to dinner. Volvic UK lists 5.8g sugars per 250ml for Summer Fruits, versus 0g per 250ml for Sugar Free Summer Fruits.
If 0g sugars is your aim, check the sugars line for the exact product and the amount you intend to drink.
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Treating sugar-free flavoured water as plain water
A 0g sugars figure describes the sugars, not the full ingredient list. Flavoured recipes can contain sweeteners and acids.
Read the ingredients when comparing recipes; choose plain still water if you do not want flavoured-drink ingredients.
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Overlooking how often you choose sparkling water
Buxton Water notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water, while Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust notes that fizzy drinks may contain acids harmful to teeth. An occasional glass and frequent, high-volume drinking are different patterns.
If acidity concerns you, consider still water for your regular dinner drink and choose sparkling water according to your preference and drinking pattern.
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Choosing a pack by bottle count alone
A large bottle or multipack may not suit the space available or the amount your household will use after opening.
Compare total litres and follow the storage and use-after-opening instructions on the product you buy.
Brand references
Highland Spring
The brand offers plain spring water and a flavoured-still range that it describes as having no added sugar.
- Compare its plain and flavoured still options according to whether you want added flavour.
- Check the label of the specific flavour for its ingredients and nutrition values.
Volvic
Volvic has both Sugar Free Summer Fruits and Summer Fruits flavoured-water products.
- Volvic UK lists 0g sugars per 250ml for Sugar Free Summer Fruits.
- Its Summer Fruits product is different: Volvic UK lists 5.8g sugars per 250ml.
Buxton
Buxton provides plain still and sparkling natural mineral-water choices.
- The still and sparkling formats let you choose whether you want fizz.
- Buxton Water notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water.
evian
evian presents its natural mineral water as an unflavoured option without added ingredients.
- Relevant if you want plain mineral water rather than a flavoured drink.
- Check the bottle’s stated mineral composition if that affects your choice.
Tesco
Tesco lists own-label British natural mineral water, including a 5L still-water format.
- The larger format may suit a household sharing water across meals.
- Compare total volume with your storage space and expected use.
Joybuy bottled-water options
These options cover sugar-free flavoured still water and plain still spring water for a TV-dinner drink. Choose by flavour, ingredients and the bottle format you expect to use.
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Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Still Water 1.25L
A strawberry-flavoured still option if you want flavour with your TV dinner. Its product nutrition information lists 0g sugars per 100ml; the ingredients include citric acid and sucralose. Check the label if sulphites matter to you. Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free Water 6 × 500ml
Six separate strawberry-flavoured bottles suit a meal where individual servings are useful. The product nutrition information lists 0g sugars per 100ml; its ingredients include citric acid, sucralose and acesulfame K. Refrigerate an opened bottle and drink within a week.
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Highland Spring Still Water 6 × 1.5L
Plain still spring water avoids the flavourings and sweeteners of the flavoured options. The pack contains six 1.5L bottles; the product description lists natural spring water as the ingredient. Refrigerate after opening and use within 7 days.
Questions about bottled water
Which bottled water suits a TV dinner when I want no added sugar?
Plain still water is the straightforward choice if you also want to avoid flavoured-drink ingredients. Sugar-free flavoured water is another option when taste matters; check its sugars figure and ingredient list for the exact bottle.
Does “low sugar” mean “sugar free” on flavoured water?
No. Volvic UK lists 5.8g sugars per 250ml for Summer Fruits and 0g per 250ml for Sugar Free Summer Fruits. Compare the nutrition panels rather than treating the two names as interchangeable.
Can I have sparkling water instead of still water with dinner?
Yes, if you prefer fizz. Buxton Water notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water, so consider how often and how much you drink if acidity concerns you.
Where can I check a natural mineral water’s composition?
Check its label. England’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says the composition of water marketed as natural mineral water in England must be stated there.
How should I store flavoured water after opening?
Follow the instructions for the particular bottle. The Joybuy listing for Volvic Touch of Fruit Sugar Free Summer Fruits 1.5L says to refrigerate it after opening and drink it within a week; other products may give different instructions.