Hosts making an alcohol-free drink
Plain soda water gives you an unsweetened base to serve with citrus or herbs. Fentimans lists 0g sugars per 100ml for its Soda Water; check any other ingredients you add to the finished drink.
Who is each mixer for?
Gin-and-tonic drinkers avoiding added sugar
Look for a tonic explicitly labelled no added sugar if you want the familiar tonic flavour. Check its ingredients and sugars figure too, rather than relying on “diet” or “light” in the name.
Hosts planning a ginger-flavoured serve
A no-sugar ginger syrup is an option for cocktails or alcohol-free drinks if you have the compatible carbonation equipment and time to prepare each serve.
What should you check before choosing?
Check the sugar claim and label first, then choose the flavour and serving format that fit the Mother’s Day drink you plan to make.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar wording | Look for an explicit no-added-sugar claim. Read the ingredients and the “of which sugars” figure per 100ml; do not substitute “light” for the claim. | I want to avoid added sugar, not simply choose a lower-calorie drink. |
| Unsweetened base | For plain soda water, check the ingredients and sugars per 100ml. Fentimans lists 0g sugars per 100ml and carbonated water, salt and sodium bicarbonate for its Soda Water. | A neutral base lets me add flavour with a garnish instead of choosing a sweetened mixer. |
| Flavour | Choose between plain soda, tonic and ginger flavour. For a tonic or flavoured mixer, check the exact product’s claim and ingredients, including any sweeteners. | If I want a tonic-style drink, plain soda will not give me that flavour; for a ginger drink, I need a different mixer again. |
| Serving setup | Check whether the mixer is ready to pour or is a syrup requiring a compatible carbonator and preparation. | For drinks served straight away, I would rather open a bottle or can; a syrup suits me when I have the equipment and want to mix the drink at home. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Treating “light” as another way of saying “no added sugar”
Fever-Tree describes its Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic as lower in calories than its regular tonic, but lists fructose in its ingredients.
If no added sugar is the requirement, look for that explicit claim and check the ingredients rather than choosing on calorie wording alone.
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Assuming no added sugar means zero sugars
A no-added-sugar claim does not, on its own, tell you the drink’s total sugars content.
If total sugars matter for the serve, compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100ml and the amount you plan to pour.
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Buying syrup when you need a ready-to-pour mixer
SodaStream’s No Sugar Ginger Ale is a syrup for preparing a sparkling drink, not a ready-to-pour tonic or soda water.
Choose syrup when you have a compatible carbonator and want a ginger-flavoured drink; otherwise, check ready-to-pour options.
Brand and product-line references
Fentimans
Its Soda Water offers a plain base, while Naturally Light Tonic Water is a separate tonic option.
- Fentimans lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Soda Water, with carbonated water, salt and sodium bicarbonate as its ingredients.
- The brand describes Naturally Light Tonic as lower-calorie; check its own pack rather than assuming it has no added sugar.
Fever-Tree
The range includes tonic waters and soda water, with different claims for different products.
- Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic is presented by Fever-Tree as a lower-calorie alternative to its Premium Indian Tonic.
- Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic lists fructose, so its “light” name does not establish a no-added-sugar choice.
M&S
Its diet tonic range includes an Indian tonic for shoppers who want tonic flavour.
- Ocado’s listing describes M&S Diet Indian Tonic Water as having no added sugar.
- Check the current pack’s ingredients if the recipient avoids particular sweeteners.
SodaStream
Its No Sugar Ginger Ale syrup provides a ginger-flavoured route for drinks prepared at home.
- SodaStream presents the syrup as an option for sparkling ginger drinks, cocktails and alcohol-free serves.
- Preparing the drink requires compatible carbonation equipment and a mixing step.
Joybuy tonic option for Mother’s Day
This ready-to-pour tonic multipack suits individual mixed drinks. If you specifically need a no-added-sugar mixer, confirm the claim on its current pack before choosing it.
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Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water, 12 × 150ml
The 12 × 150ml format is ready to pour for individual tonic-style drinks. Check the current pack for an explicit no-added-sugar claim, ingredients and nutrition information; “Slimline” alone does not settle that question. If relevant to the recipient, check for aspartame and a phenylalanine notice before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a mixer has zero sugars?
No. The claim does not by itself establish that the finished drink contains zero sugars. Check the “of which sugars” figure per 100ml if total sugars matter to your choice.
Is a “light” tonic suitable when I want no added sugar?
Not automatically. Fever-Tree describes its Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic as lower in calories than its regular tonic, but its ingredients list includes fructose. Look for an explicit no-added-sugar claim on the particular tonic you are considering.
What can I use for an alcohol-free drink without a sweet mixer?
Plain soda water is a starting base that you can serve with ice, citrus or herbs. Fentimans lists 0g sugars per 100ml for its Soda Water; check anything else you add if the finished drink’s sugar content matters.
Should I check the label again before serving?
Yes. Check the current pack for the sugar claim, ingredients, nutrition information, allergens and any sweeteners the recipient prefers to avoid.