For guests making individual drinks at different times, 150ml mixer cans are a practical starting point because each portion can stay unopened until needed. Britvic describes its 330ml Indian tonic can as two serves, so that size makes more sense when two drinks will be poured close together; choose the mix of tonic and non-tonic options around the guests you expect.
When guests make drinks at different times, individually portioned cans let each person open a mixer when they need it. Tesco Groceries lists 150ml multipacks from Fever-Tree and Schweppes; Britvic describes its 330ml can as two serves.
A small range of clearly labelled, unopened mixers is easier for guests to identify than an assortment removed from its packaging. Hosts who supply drinks as part of an accommodation business should also consider the applicable food and allergen-information requirements.
Choose a variant explicitly labelled light, slimline or zero-sugar rather than treating those descriptions as interchangeable. Check the nutrition and ingredients on the particular pack.
Estimate how many drinks might be poured together, then choose the can size and range of flavours to match.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Compare can volume and pack count. Tesco Groceries lists 150ml tonic multipacks, while Britvic says its 330ml Indian tonic can provides two serves. | If we make drinks at different times, smaller cans mean we need not keep an opened shared bottle for later. If two drinks are poured together, a two-serve can may fit. |
| Choice of mixers | Check whether the pack is regular tonic, a labelled light or slimline variant, or a non-tonic mixer such as soda water or ginger ale. Check each variant separately. | For guests with different preferences, I would rather offer a modest choice than assume everyone wants the same tonic. |
| Flavour | Read the flavour description and ingredients. Fever-Tree describes its Indian tonic as intended for gin, vodka and fortified wines; Fentimans lists herbal infusions, Sicilian lemon oil and lemongrass in its Premium Indian Tonic. | When guests are bringing different spirits, I want a classic tonic available; I would add a botanical option only if its flavour appeals to the group. |
| Pack information | Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on each pack, particularly when supplying drinks to other people. | Guests should be able to identify exactly which mixer they have been offered, including any ingredients they need to check. |
An opened bottle may be inconvenient for guests who want separate drinks later in the stay.
Estimate drinks per sitting: consider 150ml cans for staggered individual serves and a larger can when two serves will be used close together.
Classic, botanical, light and slimline variants offer different choices; one style will not necessarily match every guest’s preferences.
Start with the type of tonic guests are likely to use, then check the exact flavour, ingredients and nutrition label before adding another variant.
Guests may need the label to identify the ingredients and allergens in the drink supplied.
Keep cans in their original packaging or make the relevant pack information accessible. GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency guidance addresses allergen information for food businesses supplying prepacked and non-prepacked drinks.
A tonic and mixer range with 150ml can multipacks listed by Tesco Groceries.
A classic tonic option that Tesco Groceries lists in 12 x 150ml cans.
An Indian tonic range that Britvic described in 330ml cans, including classic and zero-sugar variants, at its September 2023 launch.
A botanical tonic range that includes Premium Indian and Naturally Light tonic waters.
A retailer whose mixer range includes own-label options alongside branded tonic multipacks.
These tonic and ginger ale multipacks offer individually portioned options for a holiday-cottage drinks cupboard. Choose between regular, light or slimline tonic and non-tonic ginger ale according to the guests’ preferences.
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An eight-pack of 150ml tonic portions for guests who prefer a light-labelled option. Check the current ingredients if a guest needs to avoid fructose; light does not mean sugar-free.
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This eight-pack provides 150ml portions when guests want regular Indian tonic at different times. Check the current nutrition label if a lower-sugar tonic is required.
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Twelve 150ml portions provide a slimline tonic choice for guests making separate drinks. Check the current pack information if aspartame or phenylalanine is relevant to a guest’s requirements.
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Ginger ale gives guests a non-tonic choice in an eight-pack. Check the can volume and current ingredients on the pack; a light-labelled drink should not be assumed to be sugar-free.
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This 12 x 150ml ginger ale pack offers smaller portions for guests who want an alternative to tonic. Check the current ingredient label if sugar or sweeteners matter to the group.
Choose 150ml portions if guests are likely to make separate drinks at different times. A 330ml can makes more sense when two serves will be poured close together; Britvic describes its 330ml Indian tonic can as providing two serves.
It can be useful when guests have different preferences, provided both packs are likely to be used. Check each product’s label rather than assuming that light, slimline and zero-sugar mean the same thing across brands.
Add a non-tonic mixer, such as ginger ale or soda water, if it matches the group’s likely drinks. Check its portion size and ingredients separately from the tonic packs.
Keep the current pack information accessible so guests can check the drink supplied. For accommodation food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency guidance says allergen information must be provided for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink; check the applicable local requirements for a cottage in Scotland.