No-added-sugar mixers for the office: what to check

Who is choosing the mixers?

Offices avoiding both added sugar and sweeteners

Choose by the ingredient list, not the calorie description. Fentimans lists carbonated water, salt and sodium bicarbonate for its Soda Water, with 0g sugars per 100ml.

Offices that want no-sugar tonic

If colleagues want tonic water and accept sweeteners, check a slimline tonic’s individual label. Tesco describes Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water as containing quinine and sweetener while stating “No sugar”.

Offices considering light tonics

Keep a lower-calorie preference distinct from a no-added-sugar requirement. Fever-Tree lists fructose in its Refreshingly Light tonics, while Fentimans lists sugar in its Naturally Light Tonic Water.

What should you check?

Unsweetened soda water

Choose when: the office wants a mixer without added sugar or sweeteners.

Trade-off: soda water does not provide tonic water’s quinine flavour.

No-sugar slimline tonic

Choose when: colleagues want tonic water and sweeteners are acceptable.

Trade-off: “no sugar” does not mean unsweetened; Tesco says Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water contains sweetener.

Light tonic

Choose when: lower calories, rather than avoiding added sugar, is the office criterion.

Trade-off: Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light tonic lists fructose, and Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic Water lists sugar.

Priority	What to check	Your needs
No added sugar	Read the exact pack claim and ingredients. For a “with no added sugar” claim in Great Britain, the nutrition-claim condition published by legislation.gov.uk excludes added mono- or disaccharides and other foods used for sweetening.	I want the office choice to meet a no-added-sugar requirement, not merely carry a light or low-calorie description.
Sweeteners	Check whether the ingredients list sweeteners even when the product says “no sugar”. Tesco describes Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water as a drink with sweetener.	Some colleagues want tonic water without sugar; others want an option without sweeteners too.
Unsweetened option	Check the ingredients and sugars per 100ml. Fentimans lists three ingredients for its Soda Water and declares 0g sugars per 100ml.	For a shared snack area, I want a plain mixer that does not rely on a sweet flavour or calorie claim.
Light tonic	Compare ingredients as well as sugars per 100ml. Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic lists fructose; Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic Water lists sugar and 3.4g sugars per 100ml.	A light tonic might suit a lower-calorie brief, but I would keep it off a strict no-added-sugar shortlist if its ingredients list sugar or fructose.

Common buying mistakes

Assuming “light” means no added sugar

Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic lists fructose, and Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic Water lists sugar despite its lower-calorie positioning.

Decide whether the office requirement is no added sugar, no sugar, or neither sugar nor sweeteners. Check each chosen product’s ingredients and nutrition panel against that requirement.
Assuming no-sugar tonic is unsweetened

Tesco describes Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water as having no sugar but containing sweetener, so it does not cover a preference to avoid sweeteners.

If both preferences matter, consider an unsweetened soda water alongside the slimline tonic and check the labels of each.
Relying on a retailer filter

Products grouped under sugar-free or low-calorie mixer filters can have different ingredients. A category label does not tell you whether an individual drink meets a no-added-sugar requirement.

Read the individual product information before ordering and check the physical pack if a substitute arrives.

Brand and retailer references

Fentimans

Its Soda Water and Naturally Light Tonic Water illustrate why ingredients matter more than a shared mixer category.

Fentimans lists carbonated water, salt and sodium bicarbonate for Soda Water, with 0g sugars per 100ml.
Naturally Light Tonic Water lists sugar and 3.4g sugars per 100ml, so it does not fit a no-added-sugar brief.

Schweppes

Slimline Tonic Water is a tonic option for an office that accepts sweeteners.

Tesco describes the 1L Slimline Tonic Water as “No sugar” and as a drink with quinine and sweetener.
Tesco says the 12 × 150ml multipack contains added intense sweeteners; it is not an unsweetened option.

Fever-Tree

Its Refreshingly Light Indian and Mediterranean tonics are light-tonic references, not substitutes for checking a no-added-sugar requirement.

Fever-Tree lists the ingredients for these varieties on its product pages.
Both ingredient lists include fructose (fruit sugar).

Tesco

Its mixer listings include different bottle and multipack formats for office stocking.

Tesco lists slimline and low-calorie mixers in formats including 1L bottles and multipacks.
Check the individual drink’s ingredients and nutrition information rather than treating a category filter as its label.

Britvic

Britvic identifies both Britvic mixers and The London Essence Company in its Great Britain portfolio.

The London Essence Company is a relevant range to assess when comparing mixer flavours and labels.
Britvic’s 2016 description of the range as under 20kcal and under 4g sugar per 100ml does not establish that a current product has no added sugar. Check the specific pack.

Joybuy product options

These options cover portioned slimline tonic and a lemon-and-lime soft drink described as usable as a mixer. Both call for an ingredient check if avoiding sweeteners or meeting a specific no-added-sugar requirement matters to the office.

Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water, 12 × 150ml

The 12 portioned cans suit an office seeking a tonic-style option. Tesco’s listing for this multipack says it contains added intense sweeteners, so check the current pack if colleagues need an unsweetened drink or a specific no-added-sugar claim.

Joybuy

7UP Zero, 24 × 330ml

The 24-can pack offers a lemon-and-lime soft drink described as usable as a mixer, rather than a tonic-water option. Check its current ingredients if sweeteners are unsuitable for the office, and check the pack claim if the requirement is specifically no added sugar.

Joybuy

Questions about sugar and sweeteners

Does “light” mean a mixer has no added sugar?

No. Check the ingredients rather than relying on “light”: Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic lists fructose, while Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic Water lists sugar and 3.4g sugars per 100ml.

What does a “with no added sugar” claim mean in Great Britain?

The nutrition-claim condition published by legislation.gov.uk requires that no mono- or disaccharides, or other foods used for sweetening, have been added. GOV.UK’s guidance identifies the transfer of regulatory responsibilities to Great Britain bodies from 1 January 2021. Check the current product label and ingredients when choosing for that requirement.

Can a no-sugar tonic contain sweeteners?

Yes. Tesco describes Schweppes Slimline Tonic Water as “No sugar” and as a drink with sweetener; its multipack listing specifies added intense sweeteners. Decide separately whether the office wants to avoid sweeteners.

What if the office wants neither added sugar nor sweeteners?

Look for an unsweetened mixer and check its current ingredients and nutrition panel. Fentimans Soda Water lists carbonated water, salt and sodium bicarbonate, with 0g sugars per 100ml; it will not provide tonic water’s quinine flavour.