Hosts serving a group
Plain sparkling water offers an unsweetened option for the table. Compare larger bottles with multipacks of individual bottles according to whether guests will pour from shared bottles or take their own.
Who is this for?
Shoppers looking for flavour without added sugar
Flavoured drinks do not all have the same ingredients. Sanpellegrino UK describes S.Pellegrino Essenza as containing zero sweeteners; its separate Zero Added Sugar fruit-drink range contains naturally occurring sugar. The M&S lemon-and-lime sparkling water lists a sweetener.
Hosts planning drinks throughout a long BBQ
Consider when guests will drink flavoured or fruit-containing fizzy options as well as what is in them. UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance distinguishes unflavoured carbonated mineral water from acidic drinks and advises keeping acidic drinks to mealtimes.
What should you check before buying?
Choose the type of drink first, then match the bottle format to the way you plan to serve guests.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and sweeteners | Read the exact claim, sugars per 100ml and ingredients. Sanpellegrino UK says its Zero Added Sugar fruit drinks contain naturally occurring sugar; M&S lists steviol glycosides in its lemon-and-lime sparkling water. | I want to know whether a drink contains fruit-derived sugars or sweeteners, rather than treating “no added sugar” as a promise of neither. |
| Flavour | Check whether flavour comes with juice or a sweetener. Sanpellegrino UK describes S.Pellegrino Essenza as a flavoured sparkling mineral water with zero sweeteners. | For guests who want something other than plain water, I would choose a flavoured bottle only after checking that its ingredients fit their preferences. |
| Serving format | Compare bottle volume and pack count. Highland Spring lists 1.5L bottles and 6 × 1L packs; Tesco also lists 6 × 1L sparkling-water packs. | Will guests pour from bottles on the table, or would individual bottles be easier to hand out? |
| Drinking occasion | Distinguish plain, unflavoured water from flavoured or fruit-containing fizzy drinks. UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance advises keeping acidic drinks to mealtimes. | If drinks will be available throughout the BBQ, I want to consider what guests may sip between meals as well as what to serve with food. |
What can catch you out?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”
Sanpellegrino UK says its Zero Added Sugar fruit drinks contain naturally occurring sugar. A different drink can contain little sugar yet use a sweetener, as the M&S lemon-and-lime example does.
Compare sugars per 100ml and the full ingredients list if either sugar or sweeteners matter to your choice.
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Choosing only small bottles for a shared table
Individual bottles and larger sharing bottles call for different serving arrangements. Highland Spring lists both 1.5L bottles and 6 × 1L packs.
Plan the quantity and decide whether guests will pour from shared bottles or each take one.
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Considering sugar but not when drinks are served
UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance distinguishes unflavoured carbonated mineral water from acidic drinks and advises keeping acidic drinks to mealtimes.
Check whether a flavoured or fruit-containing fizzy drink is intended for the meal or for sipping across the gathering.
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Assuming a listing will be unchanged on BBQ day
Stock and product details can change between planning and shopping, which matters when you need drinks for a fixed date.
Check the current listing before ordering and the ingredients on the delivered bottles or cans.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show why the particular drink and its label matter more than the brand name alone.
San Pellegrino
Its range includes plain sparkling mineral water, Essenza flavoured sparkling mineral water and separate Zero Added Sugar fruit drinks.
- The Joybuy listing for a 6 × 0.5L plain sparkling-water pack gives its ingredients as natural mineral water and carbon dioxide.
- Sanpellegrino UK describes Essenza as having zero sweeteners, but says its Zero Added Sugar fruit drinks contain naturally occurring sugar. Check which range you have picked up.
Perrier
Tesco describes its 1L Perrier sparkling water as natural mineral water fortified with gas from the spring.
- The 1L bottle provides a format for pouring at the table.
- Check current stock if you need this particular bottle for a fixed-date BBQ.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists plain sparkling spring water in individual-bottle and larger sharing formats.
- Its listed formats include 500ml and 1.5L bottles and 6 × 1L packs.
- Highland Spring says nothing is added but bubbles; still check the label of the format you buy.
Tesco
Tesco lists plain sparkling water alongside flavoured sparkling-water products and multipacks.
- Its listings include a Tesco No Added Sugar Apple & Raspberry Sparkling Flavoured Water 4 × 500ml pack.
- A flavoured drink’s claim does not replace a check of its ingredients and sugars per 100ml.
M&S
Its listed 500ml lemon-and-lime sparkling water is a flavoured single-serve option.
- The M&S listing gives sugars as less than 0.1g per 100g.
- It lists steviol glycosides, so it does not suit someone looking for a drink without sweeteners.
Plain sparkling water options on Joybuy
These plain sparkling-water packs offer different bottle sizes and pack counts for serving at a BBQ. For any pack, check the current listing and bottle label before ordering for a particular date.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water, 4 × 8 × 500ml
This multi-bottle format offers individual 500ml bottles for a group BBQ. The product name specifies four packs of eight; check that the delivered pack matches the serving plan.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6 × 0.5L
The six 0.5L bottles provide individual servings. The Joybuy listing gives the ingredients for this pack as natural mineral water and carbon dioxide.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water, 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles suit a table where guests will pour their own servings. Highland Spring describes its plain sparkling water as having nothing added but bubbles.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6 × 1L
This plain sparkling mineral water comes in six 1L bottles for pouring at a shared table. Check this larger pack’s own label for its ingredients rather than relying on another pack’s listing.
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Buxton Sparkling Water, 8 × 500ml
Eight 500ml bottles offer individual servings for guests. Check the pack label if its ingredient profile is a deciding factor.
Common questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a sparkling drink contains no sugar?
No. A drink can contain naturally occurring sugar even when it is labelled “no added sugar”. Sanpellegrino UK says its Zero Added Sugar fruit drinks contain naturally occurring sugar, so check the sugars per 100ml as well as the claim.
Can a drink with very little sugar still contain a sweetener?
Yes. The M&S lemon-and-lime sparkling-water listing gives sugars as less than 0.1g per 100g and lists steviol glycosides. Read the ingredients if avoiding sweeteners matters to you.
Are flavoured sparkling waters always unsweetened?
No. Sanpellegrino UK describes S.Pellegrino Essenza as containing zero sweeteners, but that does not describe every flavoured drink. Check each product for fruit juice, sugars and sweeteners.
What should I consider if guests will sip fizzy drinks throughout the BBQ?
Consider the drink type as well as its sugar content. UK Department of Health and Social Care guidance distinguishes unflavoured carbonated mineral water from acidic drinks and advises keeping acidic drinks to mealtimes.