Parents packing holiday-club lunches
If a child carries their own lunch bag, check the club’s container rules before choosing glass. Meadowfield Primary School’s 2025–26 packed-lunch policy, for example, prohibits glass bottles for safety.
Who is this for?
Families planning a supervised meal
A glass bottle may suit water served at the table, where an adult can handle and clear it. Highland Spring presents its glass range for events, while evian presents its glass bottles for dining and entertaining.
Buyers choosing the drink as well as the bottle
Packaging is only part of the decision. NHS guidance names water and milk as the preferred drinks for children and advises avoiding sugary fizzy drinks, squash and juice drinks.
What should you check before choosing?
Water in a permitted non-glass bottle
Choose when: A child will carry a lunch bag to school, a holiday club or an activity.
Bear in mind: The container still needs to meet the venue’s rules and be suitable for the drink you put in it.
Glass-bottled water
Choose when: Water will be served at a supervised family meal where glass is allowed.
Bear in mind: A bottle intended for table service may be awkward to carry, and permission at one venue says nothing about another.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Container rules | Ask the specific school, club or activity provider whether glass is allowed. Check that a non-glass alternative also meets its rules. | I need a bottle my child can take to the actual venue, not one that is acceptable only at home. |
| Drink type | Check whether the water is plain, still or sparkling. NHS guidance names water and milk as the preferred drinks for children. | For an everyday lunch, I want to choose the drink before deciding how it is packaged. |
| Bottle size | Check the stated volume against who will carry and drink it. Highland Spring lists 330ml and 750ml glass bottles; evian lists a 330ml glass bottle. | A smaller individual serving may suit a supervised meal; for water shared at the table, I can consider a larger bottle. |
| Use and disposal | Check the bottle material, closure and any stated drink restrictions. For glass recycling, Recycle Now advises emptying, quickly rinsing and replacing the cap. | I want a container that works during the outing as well as a practical way to deal with it afterwards. |
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming recyclable glass belongs in a lunch bag
Recycling concerns disposal after use; it does not remove breakage concerns. Meadowfield Primary School’s 2025–26 packed-lunch policy prohibits glass bottles for safety.
Check the exact venue’s rules before packing one. If glass is not permitted, use an allowed non-glass container.
Choosing the bottle before the drink
A glass presentation does not change what is inside. NHS guidance names water and milk as the preferred drinks for children.
Choose the drink first, then decide whether its container fits the setting.
Packing a table-size bottle for one child
Highland Spring’s glass range includes both 330ml and 750ml bottles. A 750ml glass bottle is a different carrying proposition from an individual serving.
Check the volume and who will carry it; consider the larger format for a supervised shared meal rather than assuming it suits a lunch bag.
Overlooking the still or sparkling label
Buxton notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water. The drink type is therefore worth checking rather than treating the labels as interchangeable.
For a straightforward routine lunch choice, check that the bottle contains plain still water.
Brand and format references
These brand formats help distinguish water intended for table service from plain-water options; a brand’s inclusion here does not establish that a particular bottle is allowed in a lunch bag.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring presents its still and sparkling glass range for events.
- Its listed glass-bottle sizes are 330ml and 750ml.
- Check the venue’s policy before taking either size in a child’s packed lunch.
evian
evian presents its glass-bottled mineral water for dining and entertaining.
- Its listed 330ml glass bottle is an individual-serving format.
- Dining-oriented presentation does not establish suitability for a school or club lunch bag.
Volvic
Volvic’s 500ml natural mineral water is a plain-water format to consider when choosing the drink rather than a glass table presentation.
- Check the material and closure of the particular bottle before packing it for a child.
Buxton
Buxton’s product guidance discusses plain still and sparkling water as drink choices.
- Its guidance distinguishes sparkling water from still water by noting that some sparkling waters have a lower pH.
- Check the drink type and the particular container rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Joybuy water options
These still-water options provide two bottle sizes to consider for a school-holiday lunch. Check the venue’s rules and the bottle material before packing either one.
No image availableIcelandic Glacial Still Water, 750ml Sports Cap, Recycled PET Bottles, Pack of 12
The stated PET bottle offers a non-glass still-water option for an outing. Each bottle is 750ml and has a sports cap; check whether that size fits the child’s lunch bag and whether the cap seals securely enough for carrying. The venue’s container rules still apply.
No image availableFIJI Water Natural Artesian Still Water, 330ml, Pack of 24
The 330ml still-water bottle is an individual-serving size. Confirm its bottle material before choosing it for a venue that restricts glass, and check the venue’s packed-lunch rules.
Questions about lunch water
Can I put a glass bottle in a school or holiday-club packed lunch?
Check that particular venue’s current policy before packing one. Meadowfield Primary School’s 2025–26 packed-lunch policy prohibits glass bottles for safety; a different school, club or activity may have its own rules.
Is glass-bottled water suitable for an everyday child’s lunch?
Plain water is a drink option consistent with NHS guidance for children, but its glass container needs a separate decision. For a child carrying a lunch bag, check the venue’s rules and consider a permitted non-glass container; glass is more suited to a supervised setting where it is allowed.
Should I choose still or sparkling water?
Plain still water is a straightforward option for a routine lunch. Buxton notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water, so check the label if you specifically want still water rather than assuming the two bottles contain the same type.
Which glass-bottle size suits a family meal?
For individual table servings, Highland Spring and evian each list a 330ml glass format; Highland Spring also lists a 750ml format to consider for sharing. Neither size establishes that glass is permitted in a school or holiday-club packed lunch.
What should I do with an empty glass water bottle?
Recycle Now advises emptying the bottle, giving it a quick rinse and putting its lid or cap back on before recycling. Check the collection arrangements where you will dispose of it.