Who is choosing the drinks?

Parents hosting a children’s party

Keep drinks available throughout the event without making fizzy soft drinks the default. The NHS identifies water and milk as the preferred drinks for children.

Hosts planning an alcohol-free drinks table

A lemonade or crafted soda is a more direct soft-drink choice than a tonic designed to accompany spirits. Check the particular drink rather than assuming its premium positioning makes it suitable for every guest.

Families checking flavours and ingredients

Compare exact labels and consider the guest list: Fentimans Rose Lemonade contains lemon, pear and rose oil, while the brand describes its Ginger Beer as fiery.

What should you check before buying?

Plan the drinks available throughout the party first, then assess any additional soft drink by its flavour, serving format and exact label.

Priority What to check Your needs
Everyday drinks Make water readily available; consider milk where it suits the guests. The NHS advises that children avoid sugary fizzy drinks. I want everyone to have a drink available without relying on a fizzy party option.
Drink style Distinguish lemonade or crafted soda from tonic marketed for spirit pairings. Check whether the chosen drink is clearly presented as non-alcoholic. A recognisable soft-drink flavour would suit this party better than an adult-style tonic.
Flavour Read the flavour description: rose lemonade contains floral and fruit ingredients, while Fentimans describes its Ginger Beer as fiery. If guests’ tastes vary, I would rather not make a bitter or strongly spiced drink the only option.
Pack and label Compare can size and sugars per 100 ml on the exact packs. Check the ingredients and any caffeine information instead of relying on terms such as ‘light’ or ‘botanical’. I need a serving format that fits the party and enough label detail to compare the drinks I am considering.
Guest requirements Read the ingredients and allergen information for each flavour. Ask the retailer or manufacturer if information needed for a guest is unclear. Before serving a drink to a guest with a declared allergy or sensitivity, I need to check that specific product.

What is easy to overlook?

  • Assuming premium tonic is aimed at children

    Fever-Tree presents its Indian tonic as an accompaniment to gin, vodka and fortified wines; it contains quinine, which gives tonic its bitter character. Premium positioning does not tell you whether children will enjoy it.

    For an alcohol-free soft-drink option, assess a lemonade or crafted soda separately. Keep tonic optional if its flavour suits the guest list.

  • Taking ‘light’ or ‘botanical’ as a label check

    Fever-Tree says its Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic has 50% fewer calories than its regular Indian tonic; that comparison does not describe every ingredient or establish suitability for children. Fentimans lists 4.4 g sugars per 100 ml for both its Rose Lemonade and Ginger Beer.

    Compare the nutrition panels per 100 ml and read the ingredients on the exact products you intend to buy.

  • Putting out only fizzy soft drinks

    The NHS identifies water and milk as the preferred drinks for children and advises them to avoid sugary fizzy drinks. An attractive party drink does not replace a drink that is available throughout the event.

    Set out water from the start and plan any other drinks alongside it.

  • Buying one strong flavour for everyone

    Fentimans describes its Ginger Beer as fiery, and its Rose Lemonade includes rose oil. These flavours differ meaningfully from plain lemonade.

    Consider guests’ preferences before committing to a large pack of a bitter, floral or spicy drink.

Which brands illustrate the options?

These brand ranges show why the drink style and exact variant matter more to this decision than a premium label alone.

Fever-Tree

Its Indian tonic range includes regular and Refreshingly Light variants.

  • Fever-Tree identifies quinine and bitter-orange oils in its Premium Indian Tonic Water.
  • The brand positions that tonic for gin, vodka and fortified wines; it is not a straightforward default drink for a children’s party.

Fentimans

Its range includes Rose Lemonade and Ginger Beer with distinct floral and ginger flavours.

  • The Rose Lemonade ingredients listed by Fentimans include lemon juice, pear juice and rose oil.
  • Fentimans describes its Ginger Beer as fiery; check whether that flavour suits the guests rather than treating it as an all-guest choice.

The London Essence Company

Britvic described Crafted Lemonade and Crafted Sodas in its 2025 UK announcements as part of an adult soft-drinks and mixer range.

  • The named range includes Crafted Lemonade and fruit-flavoured crafted sodas, offering styles other than tonic.
  • Adult soft-drink positioning does not establish that a particular variant suits children; assess its flavour and exact label.

Joybuy lemon-drink options

These lemon-flavoured drinks are options to assess for the party table. Their different can sizes may affect a serving plan; neither replaces the water and milk recommended by the NHS for children.

Fever-Tree Premium Lemonade, 6 × 150 ml

Fever-Tree Premium Lemonade, 6 × 150 ml

A lemonade option to assess if smaller individual cans fit the party’s serving plan. The pack contains six 150 ml cans; check the exact label for sugars, ingredients and caffeine information before deciding whom to serve it to.

View on Joybuy
Karma Lemony cans, 24 × 250 ml

Karma Lemony cans, 24 × 250 ml

A fizzy lemon option to assess if a larger pack suits the guest list. The pack contains twenty-four 250 ml cans; check the exact label for sugars, ingredients and caffeine information before deciding whom to serve it to.

View on Joybuy

Questions about party drinks

Should tonic water be the default at a children’s party?

No. The NHS identifies water and milk as the preferred drinks for children. Fever-Tree positions its bitter Indian tonic as a mixer for gin, vodka and fortified wines, so assess it as an optional flavour rather than a shared default.

Does a lighter mixer automatically suit children?

No. Fever-Tree says its Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic has 50% fewer calories than its regular Indian tonic, but that is a comparison between those two drinks. Read the exact pack’s ingredients and nutrition information; the NHS advice favouring water and milk for children still applies.

How should I plan drinks throughout the party?

Make water available throughout, rather than depending on a fizzy option. The NHS advises that children avoid sugary fizzy drinks, so check the label before deciding whether to offer any additional soft drink.

What if a guest has an allergy or sensitivity?

Check the exact drink’s ingredients and allergen information for every flavour you plan to serve, and ask the retailer or manufacturer if something is unclear. The Food Standards Agency says that applicable food prepacked for direct sale in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must carry a full ingredients list with allergenic ingredients emphasised.

Are botanical drinks necessarily mild?

No. Fentimans describes its Ginger Beer as fiery, while its Rose Lemonade combines lemon, pear and rose ingredients. Consider those distinct flavours before buying one style for the whole guest list.