Travellers packing individual drinks
A 500ml bottle or can gives each driver or passenger a separate portion. Check whether the container can be closed again if it might be put back in a bag or cup holder.
Who is each option for?
Shoppers avoiding sweeteners as well as added sugar
Plain sparkling water is a straightforward starting point. If you want flavour, check the particular product: S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as having no sweeteners, whereas the Sainsbury’s and M&S lemon-and-lime waters listed here contain them.
Travellers who prefer fruit flavour
Decide whether a sweetened flavoured water or a fruit-containing sparkling drink suits you. Sanpellegrino says its Zero range has no added sugar but does contain naturally occurring sugar; the nutrition panel shows how much sugar is in the drink you choose.
What should you check before packing?
Start with the type of drink, then check its label and pack format against the people and snacks you are packing for.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read “of which sugars” per 100ml and per can or bottle. Check the ingredients for fruit juice rather than treating “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”. | I want to know whether the drink contains sugars, not just whether sugar was added. Sanpellegrino says its Zero drinks contain naturally occurring sugar despite their zero-added-sugar claim. |
| Flavour and sweeteners | Compare plain water, flavour-infused water and flavoured drinks. Look for named sweeteners in the ingredients: Sainsbury’s lists sucralose in its Lemon & Lime water, while M&S lists steviol glycosides. | If I want flavour without sweeteners, the sweetener list matters as much as the front-of-pack sugar claim. S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as having no sweeteners. |
| Pack format | Check container size, number of containers and whether each one can be closed after opening. Highland Spring lists a 500ml sparkling-water bottle and a 6x1L format. | Separate drinks may be easier to allocate among travellers; a larger bottle makes more sense when I plan to share it and can manage it after opening. |
| Young passengers | Choose drinks for babies and young children using age-appropriate guidance, not a sugar claim alone. The NHS says fizzy drinks are acidic and should not be given to this age group. | When packing for a baby or young child, I need a suitable drink for them rather than assuming a no-added-sugar fizzy option will do. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”
A fruit-containing drink can still have naturally occurring sugar. Sanpellegrino says this applies to its Zero range.
Compare the “of which sugars” value per 100ml and per container, then read the ingredients to see what makes up the drink.
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Assuming flavoured water has no sweeteners
Sainsbury’s Lemon & Lime water lists sucralose, and M&S Lemon and Lime water lists steviol glycosides. Neither has the same ingredient profile as plain sparkling water.
If you want to avoid sweeteners, check the ingredients of the exact flavour and pack you are buying.
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Choosing a large bottle without a sharing plan
A larger bottle gives several travellers a shared container rather than separate drinks for each stop.
Choose individual containers when separate portions matter; consider a larger format when you intend to share it and can handle the opened bottle.
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Using a sugar claim to choose drinks for young children
The NHS says fizzy drinks are acidic and should not be given to babies and young children, including diet or reduced-sugar versions.
Follow NHS age-appropriate drinks guidance when packing for babies and young children.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show why the name of a drink is less useful than the ingredients and nutrition information for the particular product.
Highland Spring
Plain sparkling spring water, with a 500ml bottle listed by Highland Spring for drinking on the move.
- The brand describes its sparkling water as water with bubbles added.
- Choose a flavoured product instead if fruit flavour is part of what you want.
Sanpellegrino / S.Pellegrino
Two distinct flavoured options: S.Pellegrino Essenza sparkling mineral water and Sanpellegrino Zero fruit-based sparkling drinks.
- S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as having no sweeteners.
- Sanpellegrino says its Zero drinks contain naturally occurring sugar, despite having no added sugar.
Perrier
A plain carbonated mineral-water option rather than a fruit-based sparkling drink.
- Perrier describes its plain carbonated mineral water as containing no sugar and zero calories.
- Check the particular pack format before planning around an individual can or bottle.
Sainsbury’s
Own-label no-added-sugar flavoured water, including a Lemon & Lime 4x500ml pack.
- The pack offers separate 500ml bottles for travellers.
- The Lemon & Lime product’s ingredients list sucralose; it is not a sweetener-free choice.
M&S
Own-label Lemon and Lime sparkling water in a 500ml bottle.
- An individual-bottle format for someone choosing a flavoured drink.
- Its ingredients list steviol glycosides from stevia, so check whether that sweetener suits your preference.
Tesco
A retailer listing flavoured sparkling waters, including a Tesco No Added Sugar Apple & Raspberry 4x500ml product.
- The listed multipack provides individual 500ml bottles.
- Check that product’s current ingredients before choosing it on the basis of sweetener preference.
Plain sparkling water options on Joybuy
These packs offer plain sparkling spring or mineral water in individual containers or larger bottles for sharing. If you want a flavoured water or fruit-based drink, use the label checks above rather than assuming these packs represent those options.
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Cano Water Sparkling Resealable 12x500ml
Twelve 500ml containers provide separate portions for a group journey. If closing a partly used container matters, check the resealable feature on the pack.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 0.5L
Six individual 0.5L bottles suit a journey where travellers want separate portions of plain sparkling mineral water rather than a flavoured drink.
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Buxton Sparkling 8x500ml
This eight-bottle, 500ml pack is a plain sparkling-water format to consider when several travellers need their own drink.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8x500ml
Eight individual 500ml bottles suit travellers choosing plain sparkling spring water. Highland Spring describes its sparkling water as having nothing added except bubbles.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6x1L
Six 1L bottles provide a larger plain-water format for planned sharing or multiple stops. Each bottle is larger than the 500ml individual format, so consider how you will handle it after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a sparkling drink contains no sugar?
No. A drink can contain naturally occurring sugars even if no sugar has been added. Sanpellegrino says this applies to its Zero drinks; compare the “of which sugars” value per 100ml and per container when choosing one.
Can no-added-sugar flavoured water contain sweeteners?
Yes. Sainsbury’s Lemon & Lime water lists sucralose, while M&S Lemon and Lime water lists steviol glycosides. Read the ingredients of the exact product if avoiding sweeteners matters to you.
Should I take individual bottles or a larger one?
Choose individual containers when travellers need separate drinks; a larger bottle is an option when you plan to share it. Highland Spring lists both a 500ml sparkling-water bottle and a 6x1L format, so check which arrangement fits your stops and available space.
Are no-added-sugar fizzy drinks suitable for babies and young children?
The NHS says fizzy drinks are acidic and should not be given to babies and young children; a no-added-sugar claim does not change that advice. Follow NHS age-appropriate drinks guidance when packing for them.
Does removing added sugar remove concerns about acidity?
No. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust notes that sugar-free fizzy drinks can still be acidic. Check the type of drink you are packing rather than treating a sugar claim as a statement about acidity.