Regular home mixers
If you use tonic regularly, a 1L own-label bottle gives you a larger format to compare. Check its ingredients against your no-added-sugar aim.
Who these mixers suit
Branded-tonic shoppers
If you prefer a familiar brand, Schweppes Slimline is labelled no sugar. Check its aspartame ingredient alongside the sugars declaration.
Shoppers comparing light and no-added-sugar labels
If you are considering a light tonic, read its ingredients rather than relying on that description. The checked Fever-Tree and Fentimans variants list fructose or sugar.
What to check before choosing
Start with the ingredients and sugars declaration, then choose a pack format you can use according to its storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the ingredient list for added sugar or fructose, then compare sugars per 100ml. Tesco Groceries lists 0g for Tesco Low Calorie; Sainsbury's lists under 0.5g for its Diet Indian Tonic. | I want a mixer that fits a no-added-sugar shop, not one chosen solely because its label says 'light'. |
| Pack format | Compare the stated volumes: the checked own-label tonics come in 1L bottles, while the Joybuy Schweppes Slimline option is a 12 × 150ml can pack. | A larger bottle suits my regular home mixing; for occasional drinks, I would consider smaller cans. |
| Sweeteners | Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's list acesulfame K and sucralose in their checked own-label tonics. Tesco Groceries lists aspartame in Schweppes Slimline; read the current pack for relevant warnings. | If I avoid a particular sweetener, the sugars figure alone will not tell me which tonic to choose. |
| Storage after opening | Check the bottle's instructions. Sainsbury's says to refrigerate its Diet Indian Tonic after opening and use it within three days. | I may use a 1L bottle slowly, so I need to know whether its opened-bottle instructions fit my plans. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming 'light' means no added sugar
Fever-Tree's checked Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic lists fructose, while Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic lists sugar. Neither ingredient list fits a strict no-added-sugar aim.
Read the ingredients on the variant you are buying, even when its name says 'light'.
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Choosing by sugar grams alone
The checked tonics use different sweeteners: the Tesco and Sainsbury's own-label variants list acesulfame K and sucralose, while Schweppes Slimline lists aspartame.
If a particular ingredient or warning matters to you, check the current pack as well as its sugars per 100ml.
Relevant tonic brands
These details apply to the named variants, not to every mixer from each brand.
Tesco
Own-label Low Calorie Indian Tonic Water in a 1L bottle.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars per 100ml and the sweeteners acesulfame K and sucralose.
- Check the current bottle's ingredients if its formulation is important to your choice.
Sainsbury's
Own-label Diet Indian Tonic Water in a 1L bottle.
- Sainsbury's lists under 0.5g sugars per 100ml, with acesulfame K and sucralose in the ingredients.
- The bottle instructions say to refrigerate after opening and use within three days.
Schweppes
Slimline is the brand's checked no-sugar tonic variant.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars per 100ml for the checked 1L Slimline bottle.
- Its listed sweetener is aspartame; check the pack for warnings relevant to you.
Britvic
Britvic announced classic and zero-sugar Indian Tonic Water in 330ml cans in September 2023.
- The announced zero-sugar variant offers a can format to consider for smaller occasions.
- Check the particular can's current ingredients and nutrition information before treating it as a no-added-sugar choice.
Fever-Tree
Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic is a distinct variant from a no-added-sugar tonic.
- Fever-Tree lists fructose in this variant's ingredients, so it does not fit a strict no-added-sugar shop.
Fentimans
The checked Premium Indian and Naturally Light tonics have different formulations.
- Fentimans lists fructose in Premium Indian Tonic and sugar in Naturally Light Tonic; neither fits a strict no-added-sugar aim.
A Joybuy tonic option
This Schweppes Slimline can pack is a branded, smaller-portion option for home mixing; compare its format and ingredients with the 1L tonics discussed above.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water 12 × 150ml
For home mixing in smaller portions, this 12 × 150ml can pack lists 0g sugars per 100ml. It contains aspartame and a source of phenylalanine; check the current pack if that warning matters to you.
Common questions
Does a 'light' tonic automatically have no added sugar?
No. Fever-Tree lists fructose in its checked Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic, and Fentimans lists sugar in Naturally Light Tonic. Check the ingredients of the specific variant you intend to buy.
Does 'zero sugar' automatically meet a no-added-sugar aim?
Not on its own. Read the current ingredient list for added sugar or fructose alongside the sugars declaration; the wording on the front does not show you the complete formulation.
How should I store an opened 1L tonic bottle?
Follow the instructions on the bottle you buy. Sainsbury's says to refrigerate its Diet Indian Tonic after opening and use it within three days; do not assume another tonic has the same instructions.