People serving drinks to a group
Decide whether guests need a ready-to-drink option or whether you can provide water and containers for squash. Check storage directions, sweeteners and allergen declarations before serving.
Who is each option for?
Shoppers who want orange-only juice
Look for 100% orange juice with an ingredient list limited to oranges or orange juice. The NHS notes that its naturally occurring sugars still count as free sugars.
Shoppers comparing sugar in prepared drinks
Compare the nutrition information for the drink as it will be served. A juice drink or dilutable product may contain sweeteners, so check its ingredients as well as its sugars figure.
What should you check?
Choose the serving format first, then compare ingredient lists, nutrition labels and the practicalities of serving the drink at your event.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink type | Check whether the label says 100% juice, juice drink or squash. Read the ingredient list; squash must be diluted. | I want orange-only juice, or I can make up a dilutable drink before guests arrive. |
| Sugars | Compare sugars per 100ml and for the amount you will serve. The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars, even when none have been added. | A no-added-sugar claim alone will not tell me how much sugar is in a glass. |
| Guest ingredients | Read the current label for named sweeteners and allergens. Marks & Spencer lists sucralose in its Mediterranean Orange High Juice. | If guests avoid particular ingredients, I need to check the pack before offering them a drink. |
| Event preparation | Check unopened and opened storage instructions. For squash, check the dilution directions and arrange drinking water and serving containers. | Cold storage may be limited, so I need a format I can store and prepare as directed. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Pure orange juice can contain naturally occurring sugars. The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars.
Check the sugars figure on the nutrition panel for the amount you intend to pour.
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Buying a juice drink when you need 100% juice
A no-added-sugar juice drink can contain ingredients besides orange juice; Tesco describes its Growers Harvest option as a juice drink with sweetener.
If the menu calls for orange-only juice, check that the product is labelled 100% juice and read its ingredient list.
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Serving squash without planning the preparation
Squash is not ready to drink. Marks & Spencer’s Mediterranean Orange High Juice also lists sucralose, making the current ingredient and allergen label important when serving guests.
Follow the dilution directions and arrange drinking water and containers before the event.
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Assuming every bottle has the same storage needs
A chilled juice and a juice drink that can be stored unopened in a cool, dry place call for different event plans.
Check each pack’s storage and after-opening directions against the refrigeration you can provide.
Brand and range references
These examples show why the product label matters more than the brand name when choosing between juice, juice drink and squash.
Tropicana
Sainsbury's describes its listed Tropicana Smooth Orange Fruit Juice as a fruit juice with no added sugar.
- An option to examine when you want juice rather than a dilutable drink.
- Check the sugars figure and storage directions on the pack; no added sugar does not mean sugar-free.
innocent
Tesco describes the listed innocent Smooth Orange Juice as 100% pure orange juice with no added sugar.
- Its listed ingredient profile suits a requirement for orange-only juice.
- Check the chilled-storage and after-opening directions before planning event servings.
Tesco / Growers Harvest
Tesco lists Growers Harvest Orange Juice Drink as a no-added-sugar juice drink with sweetener, not as 100% orange juice.
- A ready-to-drink format to consider if an orange-only ingredient list is not required.
- Check the named sweetener and the full ingredients before serving.
Sainsbury's / Stamford Street Co.
Sainsbury's describes its Stamford Street Co. Orange Juice Drink as a no-added-sugar drink from concentrate with sweetener.
- It offers a juice-drink format rather than a dilutable squash.
- Do not substitute it for 100% orange juice without checking the ingredient requirements for your menu.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists both Mediterranean Orange High Juice and Smooth Orange Juice; they are different drink formats.
- The listed high juice is dilutable and contains 50% fruit juice and sucralose.
- The listed Smooth Orange Juice is not from concentrate, but its page does not make the same no-added-sugar claim as the high juice. Check each product separately.
Joybuy orange drink options
This option is a no-added-sugar orange squash for serving after dilution, rather than a ready-to-drink orange juice or juice drink.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This 1L squash suits an event where you can provide water and mix drinks before serving. Follow the pack’s dilution directions, and check its current sweetener and allergen declarations for guests.
Questions about serving orange drinks
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean orange juice contains no sugar?
No. Orange juice can contain naturally occurring sugars, which the NHS counts as free sugars in unsweetened fruit juice. Check the nutrition panel as well as the no-added-sugar statement.
Is a no-added-sugar juice drink the same as 100% orange juice?
No. Tesco and Sainsbury's list no-added-sugar orange juice drinks with sweetener, while Tesco describes the cited innocent Smooth Orange Juice as 100% pure orange juice. Read the product type and ingredients if orange-only juice is required.
What if guests avoid sweeteners or have allergies?
Read the current pack before buying and serving. Tesco lists sweetener in the cited Growers Harvest juice drink, and Marks & Spencer lists sucralose in its Mediterranean Orange High Juice. Check the full allergen declaration for the particular product.
How should I store orange drinks for a festival-food event?
Follow each product’s label for unopened storage, refrigeration and use after opening. Check those directions against the cold storage available at the event rather than assuming juice, juice drinks and squash can be kept in the same way.