Office workers avoiding added sugar
If you pack a drink with lunch regularly, plain water keeps the choice straightforward. For a flavoured drink, check the ingredients rather than relying on its flavour or front label.
Who is this choice for?
People who prefer flavoured water
A sugar-free flavoured option may suit your taste, but check its sugars information and whether its listed sweeteners matter to you.
Commuters carrying one lunch bottle
Consider whether the bottle fits your lunch bag and can be closed again after opening. Highland Spring, Evian and Volvic each describe 500ml plain-water formats in their product ranges.
What should you check?
Plain water
Choose it when: avoiding added sugar matters more than having a flavoured drink.
Consider: whether you want still water or fizz, and whether the bottle suits your journey.
Sugar-free flavoured water
Choose it when: you want flavour without choosing a drink labelled as containing sugars.
Consider: sugar-free does not mean sweetener-free; Volvic UK lists acesulfame K and sucralose in its Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free product.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients and the sugars figure per 100ml. Do not use a low-sugar description as a substitute for checking for added sugar: Volvic UK lists sugar among the ingredients of Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime and declares 2.3g sugars per 100ml. | I want a lunch drink without added sugar, not merely one described as low in sugar. |
| Flavour and sweeteners | Check the exact flavour’s ingredients as well as its sugar-free wording. Volvic UK lists acesulfame K and sucralose in Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free. | Flavour matters to me, but I also want to know whether the drink contains sweeteners. |
| Bottle format | Compare bottle volume with the space in your lunch bag and check the closure if you will carry it after opening. Highland Spring lists screw and sports caps for its 500ml still-water bottles. | I need a bottle I can carry to work, use at lunch and keep at my desk. |
| Still or sparkling | Choose the type you prefer to drink with lunch. If you plan to open the bottle during your commute, check whether its closure meets your needs. | Sometimes I want fizz; on other days, still water is what I would choose. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “low sugar” as “no added sugar”
A low-sugar drink can contain added sugar. Volvic UK lists sugar in Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime and declares 2.3g sugars per 100ml.
If excluding added sugar is your aim, read the ingredients as well as the nutrition panel before choosing a flavoured water.
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Assuming sugar-free means sweetener-free
A sugar-free flavoured drink may still have sweeteners. Volvic UK lists acesulfame K and sucralose in Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free.
Check the full ingredient list if you also want to avoid sweeteners.
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Choosing a large bottle without checking the fit
A larger bottle takes up more lunch-bag space than an individual 500ml format.
Check the volume, closure and space available for your commute before deciding which size to carry.
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Assuming every flavour in a range has the same ingredients
Volvic UK sells plain mineral water, a sugar-free flavoured range and a separate Touch of Fruit range; its Lemon & Lime Touch of Fruit product lists added sugar.
Read the label for the exact flavour and bottle you are buying, particularly when switching ranges.
Relevant brand ranges
These ranges illustrate why the precise product line and bottle size matter; a brand name alone does not identify a drink’s ingredients.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists still spring water in several bottle sizes, including 500ml, alongside a separate flavoured-water range.
- Its still-water range lists screw or sports caps for 500ml bottles.
- The brand describes its flavoured range as sugar-free; check the current label of the particular flavour you choose.
Evian
Evian lists a 500ml natural mineral water bottle in its UK range.
- Evian describes its natural mineral water as having no extra additives or enhancements.
- Check the size and label of the particular pack before buying it for a lunch bag.
Volvic
Volvic UK lists plain natural mineral water separately from its flavoured product lines.
- Its plain-water range includes a 500ml format, while Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free provides a flavoured example.
- The product lines differ: Volvic UK lists sweeteners in Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free, but added sugar in Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime.
Joybuy bottled-water options
These options cover plain sparkling or mineral water and flavoured water labelled sugar-free. Compare the exact bottle’s label, size and closure against what you need for lunch.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6 × 0.5L
A plain sparkling-water option in individual 0.5L bottles. If you will carry an opened bottle, check its closure before buying.
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Buxton Sparkling, 8 × 500ml
A sparkling-water multipack with 500ml bottles for carrying one at a time. Check the bottle closure if resealing matters on your commute.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free, 6 × 500ml
A flavoured alternative in individual bottles. Volvic UK lists sweeteners for Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free; check the current pack’s ingredients if avoiding sweeteners matters to you.
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Evian Mineral Water, 6 × 500ml
A mineral-water multipack with an individual bottle size for lunch. Evian describes its natural mineral water as having no extra additives; check the current pack’s label and closure for your requirements.
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Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Still Water, 1.25L
A still, strawberry-flavoured option in a larger bottle than the 500ml lunch formats shown here. Check whether 1.25L fits your bag and read the current ingredients if sweeteners or sulphites are a concern.
Frequently asked questions
Is plain water the simplest no-added-sugar lunch drink?
Yes. Plain still or sparkling water avoids the need to compare flavour formulations when added sugar is your main concern. Check that you have chosen a plain-water product rather than a flavoured drink from the same brand.
Does “low sugar” mean “no added sugar”?
No. Volvic UK lists sugar among the ingredients of Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime and declares 2.3g sugars per 100ml. Read both the ingredients and nutrition panel if you want to exclude added sugar.
Can sugar-free flavoured water contain sweeteners?
Yes. Volvic UK lists acesulfame K and sucralose in Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free. If you also want to avoid sweeteners, check the exact product’s ingredient list.
Which bottle size should I carry with an office lunch?
A 500ml bottle is a useful size to consider for one lunch; Highland Spring and Evian both list 500ml formats. Choose according to your bag space and how much you intend to carry, and check the closure if you need to reseal the bottle.