People taking a drink with breakfast
If you want a sealed can to carry with food, a 150ml format gives you one small portion. Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves, making that format a different choice for a solo journey.
Who are these cans for?
Shoppers comparing sugar and sweeteners
Look at the amount of sugar in the can you will drink, as well as its ingredients. Asda lists 0g sugars per 150ml can for Schweppes Slimline, while Sainsbury’s lists 3.8g per 100ml for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light and 7.4g per 100ml for Fever-Tree Premium Indian.
People choosing by flavour
Check whether you want a bitter tonic or a citrus or botanical profile before buying several cans. Fentimans describes herbal infusions, Sicilian lemon oil and lemongrass in its Premium Indian Tonic Water; check the exact pack format if cans are essential.
What should you check?
Start with the size of the drink you will actually take, then compare the label and flavour of the exact multipack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Can size | Check the volume per can, not just the pack count. Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves in its 2023 launch announcement. | A 150ml can suits me when I want one small drink with food; I would choose a larger can deliberately, rather than by pack size alone. |
| Sugar | Compare sugar figures on the same per-100ml or per-can basis. Sainsbury’s lists 3.8g sugars per 100ml for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light and 7.4g for its regular Premium Indian tonic. | If I am limiting sugar, I want to know what is in the whole can I plan to drink, not rely on the word ‘light’. |
| Ingredients | Read the sweeteners and any warnings on the exact pack. Asda lists aspartame in Schweppes Slimline, which has 0g sugars per 150ml can. | I may want a lower-sugar tonic, but I still need its sweetener and ingredient information to suit my preferences. |
| Flavour | Check whether the product is a bitter tonic or another mixer flavour. Fentimans describes herbal and citrus ingredients in its Premium Indian Tonic Water; confirm the format before assuming it comes in a can multipack. | I would rather choose a flavour I expect to drink on its own than commit to a multipack based on the serving size alone. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating a mixer as breakfast
A convenient canned soft drink is not a substitute for breakfast food. Asda lists just 3 kcal in a 150ml can of Schweppes Slimline.
Choose your breakfast food separately, then decide whether you want a mixer alongside it.
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Assuming ‘light’ means sugar-free
Sainsbury’s lists 3.8g sugars per 100ml for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light. Asda lists 0g sugars per 150ml can for Schweppes Slimline, which contains aspartame.
Read both the nutrition panel and ingredient list for the specific multipack.
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Choosing a large can for a one-can routine
Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves. That differs from taking one small 150ml can with food.
Choose the larger format when you intend to have a larger drink or share it.
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Buying tonic for its quinine as a remedy
Tonic water should not be used to treat leg cramps. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advises against routine quinine use for nocturnal leg cramps and notes adverse reactions can include those to quinine in tonic water.
If you have previously reacted to quinine or have questions about persistent cramps or medicines, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Brand and range references
Schweppes
Slimline offers a small-can tonic format for comparing sugar and sweeteners.
- Asda lists Slimline as 12 × 150ml cans, with 0g sugars and 3 kcal per can.
- The listed ingredients include aspartame; check the pack warning if phenylalanine matters to you.
Fever-Tree
Its Indian tonic listings provide regular and Refreshingly Light choices in 150ml cans.
- Sainsbury’s lists a 15 × 150ml Premium Indian pack and an 8 × 150ml Refreshingly Light pack.
- The same listings give 7.4g and 3.8g sugars per 100ml respectively; the light version is not sugar-free.
Fentimans
A reference for shoppers interested in a herbal and citrus-led tonic flavour.
- Fentimans describes herbal infusions, Sicilian lemon oil and lemongrass in its Premium Indian Tonic Water.
- Check the retailer’s listing for the exact can multipack you want; the flavour description alone does not establish its pack format.
Britvic Mixers
A larger-can tonic format to consider for sharing or a deliberately larger drink.
- Britvic announced classic and zero-sugar Indian tonic in 330ml six-packs in September 2023, describing each can as two serves.
- Check the current listing before planning around that format; a two-serve can may not suit a one-person grab-and-go portion.
London Essence
A flavour-led option if you want to consider mixers beyond standard Indian tonic.
- Britvic announced Crafted Lemonade in 150ml six-can packs and Crafted Sodas in 250ml four-can packs in May 2025.
- Check the label of the particular flavour: Sainsbury’s describes London Essence Original Indian Tonic as sweetened with fructose, not sugar-free.
Tesco
An own-label option for shoppers considering a larger tonic can.
- Tesco lists Low Calorie Indian Tonic Water in a 6 × 250ml can pack.
- Read the current pack’s nutrition and ingredient information if sugar or particular sweeteners affect your choice.
Joybuy mixer cans
These tonic multipacks offer individually portioned 150ml cans to take as a drink alongside breakfast food. Compare their sugar figures and ingredients if those affect your choice.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water 12 × 150ml
The 150ml cans suit taking one small tonic with breakfast food. The Joybuy listing gives 0g sugars per 100ml and identifies aspartame; check its phenylalanine warning if relevant.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian Tonic Water 15 × 150ml
This 15-can pack provides small individual portions. Its Joybuy listing gives 15 kcal and 3.8g sugars per 100ml and identifies fructose, so ‘light’ does not mean sugar-free.
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Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
The eight-can pack provides one 150ml portion at a time. The Joybuy listing gives 15 kcal and 3.8g sugars per 100ml and identifies fructose; it is not sugar-free.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
Choose between its small 150ml portions and the other packs by flavour as well as label information. The Joybuy listing describes Mediterranean botanicals and gives 17 kcal and 4.2g sugars per 100ml.
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Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
This eight-pack offers individually portioned regular Indian tonic. Its Joybuy listing gives 8.0g sugars per 100ml, an important distinction if you are comparing it with the light or slimline cans.
Frequently asked questions
Which can size suits one person taking breakfast out?
Start with 150ml if you want one small can with your food. Asda and Sainsbury’s list Schweppes and Fever-Tree multipacks in that size; Britvic described its 330ml tonic can as two serves in its September 2023 launch announcement.
Does ‘light’ tonic mean sugar-free?
No. Sainsbury’s lists 3.8g sugars per 100ml for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light, whereas Asda lists 0g sugars per 150ml can for Schweppes Slimline. Check the nutrition panel for the precise product and serving size.
Can a mixer can replace breakfast?
Treat a mixer as a soft drink alongside breakfast food, not as the food itself. For example, Asda lists 3 kcal per 150ml can of Schweppes Slimline; choose your breakfast separately.
What if I avoid a particular sweetener?
Read the ingredient list and warnings on the exact multipack. Asda lists aspartame in Schweppes Slimline, while the supplied Joybuy listing for Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian identifies fructose; their ‘slimline’ and ‘light’ names do not tell you the full formulation.
Can I use tonic water for leg cramps?
Do not use tonic water as a treatment for leg cramps. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advises against routine quinine use for nocturnal leg cramps and notes that adverse reactions can include those to quinine in tonic water. Ask a healthcare professional about persistent cramps or medicine concerns.