Households watching the drinks budget
Compare how much of a bottle or multipack will actually be used, especially when an opened bottle has a short consume-within period.
Who is this choice for?
Families comparing sugars
Look at sugars per 100ml and the amount likely to be poured or served. A small can and a large glass are different portions, even when they contain the same drink.
Households drinking mixers on their own
Choose the flavour and format as you would for a soft drink, rather than assuming a product promoted for mixing with spirits will suit an after-school occasion.
What should you compare?
Start with cost per litre and the quantity your household is likely to use, then check the label of the exact drink you plan to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable value | Compare current cost per litre and total pack volume. Check the consume-within instructions before choosing a bottle you will open. | I would rather buy an amount we will finish than a larger pack that goes unused. |
| Portion size | Check the volume of each can or intended glass, not just the number of cans. Britvic describes 330ml six-packs, while a Waitrose & Partners Schweppes ginger-ale listing gives twelve 150ml cans. | Individual cans may suit us when drinks are served on separate days; a shared bottle may suit us when several people want the same flavour soon. |
| Sugars | Compare sugars per 100ml on the exact variant, then check the figure for the amount likely to be served. The Waitrose & Partners listings give 4.8g per 100ml for standard Schweppes Canada Dry Ginger Ale and 0g per 100ml for its Slimline version. | If this is a drink for children after school, I want to know what is in the actual serving, not assume a mixer or small can contains little sugar. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list alongside any “light”, “slimline” or “zero sugar” wording. The Waitrose & Partners Slimline ginger-ale listing names sweeteners; Fentimans lists 3.4g sugars per 100ml for Naturally Light Tonic Water. | Our choice needs to reflect both sugar content and which ingredients the household prefers. |
| Drinking occasion | Check the flavour and whether you intend to drink the mixer on its own. Consider a smaller quantity before committing to a multipack of an unfamiliar flavour. | I want a drink people will enjoy on its own, rather than choosing a large pack solely because it is sold as a mixer. |
Buying pitfalls
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Choosing a large bottle on unit cost alone
A lower cost per litre is less useful if the opened drink will not be finished. The Waitrose & Partners Indian Tonic Water listing instructs buyers to refrigerate its 1-litre bottle after opening and consume it within three days.
Check the chosen bottle’s storage instructions against how soon the household will drink it; otherwise, compare smaller portions.
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Assuming “light” means sugar-free
The wording does not identify the sugars in every drink. Fentimans lists 3.4g sugars per 100ml for Naturally Light Tonic Water, whereas a Waitrose & Partners listing gives 0g per 100ml for Schweppes Slimline Canada Dry Ginger Ale.
Read the exact variant’s nutrition panel and ingredients, then consider the intended serving size.
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Comparing multipacks by can count
Six 330ml cans contain a different total volume from twelve 150ml cans, so pack count alone cannot show which purchase suits the household.
Compare total millilitres, current cost per litre and how many individual portions you are likely to use.
Mixer brands and their ranges
Schweppes
A reference for comparing standard and Slimline ginger ale in different pack formats.
- Waitrose & Partners lists standard Canada Dry Ginger Ale in twelve 150ml cans at 4.8g sugars per 100ml, and Slimline Canada Dry Ginger Ale in a 1-litre bottle at 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Those figures describe the named ginger-ale variants, not every Schweppes mixer. The Slimline listing names sweeteners.
Fentimans
A botanically brewed tonic range for shoppers considering flavour alongside pack size and sugars.
- Fentimans lists Naturally Light Tonic Water in 200ml and four-by-200ml formats, with 3.4g sugars per 100ml.
- According to Fentimans, this variant has 30% fewer calories than its Premium Indian Tonic Water; that brand comparison does not mean it is sugar-free or establish its value against other brands.
Britvic
An Indian tonic range with portioned cans in classic and zero-sugar variants.
- Britvic’s September 2023 launch announcement describes a six-pack of 330ml cans.
- The announcement presents these as mixers for at-home drinking occasions; choose the exact variant and flavour with the intended use in mind.
Fever-Tree
A range covering tonic, soda and other mixers with different flavour styles.
- Fever-Tree says its mixer and soft-drink range contains no artificial sweeteners.
- The brand’s range description cannot replace the nutrition and ingredient label for a particular variant, especially when comparing drinks for an after-school occasion.
Joybuy mixer multipacks
These tonic-water multipacks offer portioned cans in several pack sizes and variants. Compare their current unit costs and the labels of the exact drinks before choosing for an after-school shop.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water 12 x 150ml
Twelve 150ml cans provide individual portions. Check this Slimline tonic’s own sugars figure and ingredient list rather than applying figures from a different Schweppes drink.
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Double Dutch Skinny Tonic 24 x 200ml
This pack contains twenty-four 200ml portions. If the larger multipack appeals, compare its total volume and current unit cost with the amount your household will use; check the label for sugars rather than treating “Skinny” as a sugar-free claim.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian Tonic Water 15 x 150ml
Fifteen 150ml cans provide small individual portions of Indian tonic water. Check the exact variant’s sugars and ingredients if it will be served as a soft drink.
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Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 x 150ml
Eight 150ml cans offer a smaller total pack volume than a larger multipack of the same can size. Read this product’s nutrition panel before deciding what “Naturally Light” means for the drink you intend to serve.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water 8 x 150ml
Eight 150ml cans offer portioned Mediterranean tonic water. Consider whether this flavour suits drinking on its own before buying a multipack, and check the exact product’s sugars figure.
Common questions
How do I compare a bottle with a can multipack?
Compare current cost per litre and total volume, then consider how much will be consumed. An opened bottle may have a short storage period: Waitrose & Partners says its 1-litre Indian Tonic Water should be refrigerated and consumed within three days of opening.
Does “light” or “slimline” always mean sugar-free?
No. Fentimans lists 3.4g sugars per 100ml for Naturally Light Tonic Water, while a Waitrose & Partners listing gives 0g per 100ml for Schweppes Slimline Canada Dry Ginger Ale and names sweeteners. Check the exact drink’s label.
What should I check if children will drink a mixer on its own?
Check the exact product’s sugars per 100ml, the amount likely to be served, its ingredients and whether the household likes the flavour. NHS guidance says the frequency and amount of sugary food and drinks should be as low as possible for children; being sold as a mixer does not tell you its sugar content.
Do storage instructions matter for mixers?
Yes, particularly for a bottle that may be used over several days. Follow the chosen product’s label: the Waitrose & Partners Indian Tonic Water listing, for example, says to refrigerate after opening and consume within three days.