Hosts planning tonic-led drinks
Individual cans make it easier to count the tonic portions planned for gin and tonic or other tonic-based long drinks without opening a shared bottle.
Who are these mixers for?
Hosts serving drinks with and without alcohol
A non-tonic choice gives guests another flavour option. Britvic describes its London Essence lemonade and crafted sodas as suitable for social occasions with or without alcohol.
Hosts checking ingredients for guests
Check each flavour’s actual pack before serving. GOV.UK says UK food businesses must tell consumers when any of 14 specified allergens are ingredients in a food or drink product.
What should you check before buying?
Count the mixer serves you expect to make, then decide which drink styles need their own cans. Pack size matters less if the flavour does not suit the drinks or guests you have in mind.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Individual serves | Check both can count and volume. Tesco Groceries lists tonic in 12 × 150ml and 15 × 150ml packs; an unopened can can be counted as one planned mixer portion. | I want enough separate cans for the guests likely to choose mixed drinks, without relying on one open bottle. |
| Drink style | Match quinine-led tonic to planned tonic drinks. For a non-tonic option, check whether a lemonade or soda is intended as a mixer, a drink on its own, or both. | Not everyone will want tonic. I would like another flavour available for guests drinking with or without alcohol. |
| Light tonic | Check the exact product’s per 100ml nutrition, ingredients and can size. Tesco Groceries lists light Indian and light Mediterranean tonic in 15 × 150ml packs. | If guests ask for light tonic, I want to offer it alongside other choices rather than assume one tonic suits everyone. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information for every flavour purchased. GOV.UK says UK food businesses must disclose any of 14 specified allergens when they are ingredients in food or drink. | Before serving guests with allergies or other ingredient requirements, I need to check the particular cans on the table. |
Common buying mistakes
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Buying only tonic for a varied guest list
Tonic’s quinine-led flavour will not be every guest’s choice, particularly if some drinks are being served without alcohol.
Choose the main tonic pack around your planned tonic serves, then consider a separate lemonade or soda pack for another drink style.
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Assuming a mixer comes in the can format you need
A mixer’s flavour description does not establish its packaging or the number of individual portions in a pack.
Confirm the can count and volume on the exact product before including it in your party drinks plan.
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Assuming every flavour has the same ingredients
Ingredient information for one tonic, lemonade or botanical mixer should not be treated as information about an entire brand. GOV.UK says UK food businesses must disclose any of 14 specified allergens that are ingredients in food or drink.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on each exact flavour and pack you intend to serve.
Relevant mixer brands
These brand references help distinguish mixer styles and pack formats; check the particular product when choosing cans for the party.
Fever-Tree
Tesco Groceries lists Fever-Tree standard Indian tonic and light tonic in 150ml can multipacks, including 15-can formats.
- The listed standard and light variants let you plan more than one tonic style in the same can size.
- Check the selected variant’s ingredients and nutrition; a light tonic is not interchangeable with every other tonic recipe.
Schweppes
Tesco Groceries lists 12 × 150ml cans of Schweppes tonic, slimline tonic and Canada Dry Ginger Ale.
- The listed 12-can formats offer a consistent portion size across these drink styles.
- Check the label and intended use of the flavour you choose rather than treating the variants as equivalent.
Fentimans
Fentimans describes its Premium Indian Tonic as a botanical tonic made with herbal infusions, Sicilian lemon oil and lemongrass extract.
- Its described ingredients give hosts a specific flavour profile to consider alongside their planned drinks.
- Confirm the packaging and pack size of any Fentimans product before choosing it for an individual-can drinks table.
Britvic (The London Essence Co.)
In May 2025, Britvic announced London Essence Crafted Lemonade in a 150ml six-can format and crafted sodas in 250ml four-can formats.
- Britvic describes these drinks for social occasions with or without alcohol, making them relevant when the table needs a non-tonic choice.
- Check the desired flavour, can size and current listing before planning around a particular multipack.
Mixer cans on Joybuy
These Joybuy options include standard and light tonic cans alongside lemonade and a lime soda mixer. Choose by the drinks you plan to serve and the number of individual cans you need.
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Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Premium Indian Tonic Water 15 × 150ml
For a party offering light tonic, this pack contains 15 individual 150ml cans. Check the exact pack’s nutrition and ingredients when choosing it for guests.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water 12 × 150ml
This slimline tonic provides 12 individual 150ml cans for planned tonic serves. Its product description states that it contains a source of phenylalanine; check the exact label against guests’ dietary requirements.
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Schweppes Original Lemonade 12 × 150ml
For a non-tonic option, this lemonade comes in 12 individual 150ml cans and is described for use as a mixer or on its own. Its product description states that it contains a source of phenylalanine; check the exact label before serving.
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Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water 8 × 150ml
This Indian tonic is an option for planned tonic-led drinks, with eight individual 150ml cans. If you expect more than eight tonic serves, account for the additional cans you will need.
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Fever-Tree Mexican Lime Soda 6 × 150ml
This lime soda offers six individual 150ml cans as a non-tonic mixer option for planned vodka or tequila drinks. The product description advises caution for people with fructose intolerance; check the exact label before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How many mixer cans should I plan for a Halloween party?
Start with the number of mixed drinks you expect guests to make and count each 150ml can as one planned mixer portion. Allow for the different drinks on your menu rather than assuming everyone will choose tonic; Tesco Groceries lists tonic packs of 12 and 15 cans, while Britvic announced a six-can London Essence lemonade pack in May 2025.
Should I choose regular tonic, light tonic or flavoured cans?
Choose regular tonic for planned quinine-led drinks, consider light tonic when guests want that alternative, and add lemonade or soda if some guests would prefer a non-tonic flavour. Check each product’s ingredients and nutrition rather than assuming the variants have the same recipe.
Can London Essence crafted sodas be served without alcohol?
Yes. Britvic describes its London Essence crafted-soda formats as intended for social occasions with or without alcohol; check the particular flavour and pack size when planning how many drinks to serve.
What should I check before serving mixer cans to guests with allergies?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on every exact flavour and pack you serve. GOV.UK says UK food businesses must tell consumers when any of 14 specified allergens are ingredients in a food or drink product; do not rely on another flavour’s label.