Hosts serving several diners
For a shared Chinese takeaway, bottle size and the number of glasses matter. Tesco and Sainsbury's each list a 2L lemonade that makes eight 250ml glasses; consider how much will be left after the meal.
Who is choosing the drink?
Shoppers comparing sugars on the label
No-added-sugar wording does not mean every drink lists 0g sugars. Tesco lists 0.2g per 100ml for its cloudy lemonade, while Ocado lists 0g per 100ml for R. White's Diet Lemonade.
People checking ingredients for guests
Compare the sweeteners and ingredient notices on the bottle you intend to serve. The listed products differ, including sulphite-related ingredients in some lemonades and phenylalanine notices on some alternatives.
What should you compare?
Start with the lemon flavour you want, then match the pack to the number of diners and read the nutrition and ingredients panels on that drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare sugars per 100ml on the nutrition panel, rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording. Tesco lists 0.2g per 100ml; Ocado lists 0g per 100ml for R. White's Diet Lemonade. | I want a fizzy lemon drink, but the sugars value on the specific bottle matters to my choice. |
| Servings | Match the pack size to the table. Tesco and Sainsbury's list 2L bottles and eight 250ml glasses; M&S lists a 1L Diet Cloudy Lemonade. | For several diners, I want enough to pour around the table. With fewer people, I would rather consider how much opened drink might remain. |
| Flavour | Check whether the drink is sold as cloudy lemonade, clear lemonade or lemon-and-lime. Coca-Cola describes Sprite Zero as lemon-and-lime flavoured, not classic lemonade. | I am happy with a citrus alternative only if the people eating would welcome lemon-and-lime instead of lemonade. |
| Ingredients | Read the sweeteners and ingredient notices on the current pack. The listed Tesco and Sainsbury's lemonades have sulphite-related ingredients; R. White's Diet Lemonade and Sprite Zero carry phenylalanine notices. | Before I serve guests, I need to check the actual bottle for any ingredients or notices relevant to them. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming no added sugar means 0g sugars
Tesco's no-added-sugar cloudy lemonade lists 0.2g sugars per 100ml, while Ocado lists 0g per 100ml for R. White's Diet Lemonade. The phrases do not tell you that the drinks have identical ingredients.
Compare the sugars line and ingredients list on the bottle, using the same per-100ml basis.
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Treating lemon-and-lime as the same flavour as lemonade
Coca-Cola describes Sprite Zero as a lemon-and-lime soft drink. It is an option for diners who want that flavour, rather than an identical substitute for lemonade.
If a lemonade-style drink is important for the meal, check how the product describes its flavour before choosing.
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Forgetting the pack check before serving
The drinks use different sweeteners and some carry sulphite-related ingredients or phenylalanine notices. Instructions for storing an opened bottle also matter if some remains after the takeaway.
Read the current label for guests' ingredient requirements and follow its directions after opening.
Relevant brand references
Tesco
Tesco lists a 2L No Added Sugar Cloudy Lemonade for pouring glasses at a shared meal.
- The product page lists 0.2g sugars per 100ml and 0.6g per 250ml glass.
- Its ingredients include a sweetener and sodium metabisulphite; check the current bottle before serving.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 2L cloudy no-added-sugar lemonade for a group meal.
- Its listing states 0.6g sugars per 250ml glass and describes lemon fruit and juice.
- The listed lemon ingredients contain sulphites; read the current pack if this matters to a guest.
R. White's
R. White's Diet Lemonade is a 2L clear lemonade listed by Ocado.
- Ocado lists 0g sugars and 2kcal per 100ml.
- The listing includes several sweeteners and a notice that the drink contains a source of phenylalanine.
M&S
M&S Diet Cloudy Lemonade comes in a 1L bottle, a format to consider for fewer diners.
- M&S lists 0.2g sugars and 4kcal per 100g for this drink.
- M&S says to refrigerate the bottle after opening and use it within three days; follow the current pack directions.
Sprite
Sprite Zero is a lemon-and-lime soft drink to consider when diners do not specifically want lemonade.
- Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g sugars and 1kcal per 100ml.
- Its listed ingredients include sweeteners, and it carries a phenylalanine notice.
Joybuy drinks for the table
These Joybuy packs offer individual cans for a shared meal: one is labelled lemonade, while the Sprite and 7UP Zero packs are lemon-and-lime alternatives. Choose the flavour and pack size that fit the diners, then check the current product label before serving.
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7 Up Lemonade Zero, 24 × 330ml
The 24-can pack provides individual portions for a group. Its pink, fruit-flavoured lemonade profile differs from plain lemon; check the sweeteners and phenylalanine notice on the pack before serving.
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Sprite No Sugar, 8 × 330ml
Eight individual cans suit a table where lemon-and-lime is welcome instead of lemonade. Check the pack's sweeteners and phenylalanine notice if these are relevant to guests.
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7UP Zero, 24 × 330ml
This 24-can pack provides individual portions for a larger group if lemon-and-lime, rather than lemonade, suits the meal. Read the current pack for its sweeteners and phenylalanine notice.
Questions about serving and labels
Does no added sugar mean 0g sugars?
No. Tesco lists 0.2g sugars per 100ml for its No Added Sugar Cloudy Lemonade, while Ocado lists 0g per 100ml for R. White's Diet Lemonade. Read the nutrition panel for the particular drink you are serving.
What bottle size works for a Chinese takeaway night?
For a group, Tesco and Sainsbury's each list a 2L lemonade that provides eight 250ml glasses. M&S lists a 1L Diet Cloudy Lemonade, which may better match a smaller table or leave less opened drink.
What if a guest needs to check sweeteners or other ingredients?
Read the physical pack before serving: these drinks use different sweeteners and carry different ingredient notices. The listed Tesco and Sainsbury's lemonades have sulphite-related ingredients, while R. White's Diet Lemonade and Sprite Zero carry phenylalanine notices.
How should an opened bottle be stored?
The listed Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S lemonades instruct you to refrigerate the bottle after opening and use it within three days. Follow the directions on the bottle you buy.