Parents packing a straightforward lunch drink
Plain still water avoids the label checks that come with flavoured drinks. It is a practical starting point when you have not yet checked the school’s drinks policy.
Who is this choice for?
Pupils who prefer fruit flavour
Look at the exact flavour’s claim and ingredients. A product described as low sugar is not necessarily a no-added-sugar choice, and a sugar-free drink may contain sweeteners.
Families checking school rules
The Department for Education’s school-food guidance concerns food and drink provided by state-funded schools in England. For a drink packed from home, check the individual school’s packed-lunch or water-only policy, particularly before choosing flavoured or sparkling water.
What should you check?
Check the school’s drinks policy and the exact bottle’s label first. Then choose a flavour and bottle size that work for the pupil’s school day.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the claim, ingredients and sugars value on the exact flavour and pack. Under the nutrition-claims rule published on legislation.gov.uk, “no added sugars” excludes added sugars and other foods used for sweetening; “low sugar” is a different claim. | I want to avoid added sugar, not just choose a drink described as low sugar. |
| School rules | Check the school’s packed-lunch or water-only policy for flavoured drinks, sparkling water and containers. London City Hall’s water-only schools toolkit describes plain water and plain reduced-fat milk as permitted drinks in a water-only school. | If the policy is unclear, I would choose plain still water until I know what the school allows. |
| Flavour and sweeteners | Compare the exact ingredient lists. Highland Spring states that its flavoured still range has no added sugar; Volvic lists acesulfame K and sucralose in Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free. | A fruit flavour would appeal to me, but I also want to know whether the drink contains sweeteners. |
| Bottle format | Check the individual bottle size, lunch-bag space and access to refill points before choosing a multipack or larger bottle. Tesco lists still-water packs in different formats, including 500ml bottles and larger containers. | I need a bottle that is practical to carry and use during the school day. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Treating “low sugar” as “no added sugar”
Volvic describes its standard Touch of Fruit Strawberry as low sugar but says it is sweetened with sugar and stevia leaf extract. That description does not establish that it meets a no-added-sugar requirement.
Check the claim and ingredient list for the exact drink rather than substituting a low-sugar flavour.
-
Assuming zero sugars means no sweeteners
Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free declares 0g sugars but lists acesulfame K and sucralose. Sugar content and the presence of sweeteners are separate label checks.
Decide whether you are avoiding added sugar, looking for zero sugars or avoiding sweeteners, then read both the nutrition panel and ingredients.
-
Checking the drink but not the school policy
A no-added-sugar claim does not establish whether a school accepts flavoured or sparkling drinks in packed lunches. The Department for Education’s guidance for state-funded schools in England addresses food and drink provided by schools; individual packed-lunch rules need a separate check.
Read the school’s drinks policy or ask the school before packing flavoured or sparkling water.
-
Choosing a pack without checking the bottle size
A larger bottle may take up more room in a school bag than an individual 500ml bottle. Pack format matters even when the drink itself meets the sugar requirement.
Check the size of each bottle against the lunch bag and the pupil’s access to drinking water during the day.
Brand and retailer references
Highland Spring
Offers plain water and a flavoured still-water range.
- Highland Spring states that its flavoured still range has no added sugar and declares 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Check the exact bottle’s ingredients and whether the school allows flavoured drinks.
Volvic
Offers plain mineral water, standard Touch of Fruit and Touch of Fruit Sugar Free products.
- Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free declares 0g sugars and lists its sweeteners.
- Volvic says standard Touch of Fruit Strawberry contains sugar and stevia leaf extract; do not treat the two ranges as equivalent.
Buxton
A plain still mineral-water option for a packed lunch.
- Buxton describes its natural mineral water as having nothing added.
- Check any flavoured variant separately rather than applying the plain-water description to it.
Tesco
Lists own-label still mineral water in several pack formats alongside branded water.
- Tesco’s water listings include a 12 × 500ml still-water pack and larger formats.
- For a flavoured product, check its own label and ingredients rather than relying on the water category.
Evian
A plain still mineral-water brand; Tesco lists an Evian 6 × 1.5L multipack.
- The listed multipack provides a plain still-water format.
- Check whether the individual 1.5L bottle is practical for the pupil’s bag.
Joybuy flavoured-water options
These fruit-flavoured still waters are options to consider if the school allows flavoured drinks. Compare the bottle size and exact ingredients before choosing one for a packed lunch.
No image available
Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free 6 × 500ml
A strawberry-flavoured option in individual 500ml bottles. If you want to avoid sweeteners as well as added sugar, check this pack’s ingredients; confirm that the school permits flavoured water.
No image available
Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Still 1.25L
A strawberry-flavoured still-water option in a 1.25L bottle. Check that this size fits the pupil’s bag, review the ingredients if sweeteners or sulphites matter to you, and confirm the school permits flavoured water.
Frequently asked questions
Do “no added sugar” and “sugar free” mean the same thing?
No. The nutrition-claims rule published on legislation.gov.uk says a “no added sugars” claim excludes added sugars and other foods used for sweetening. A sugar-free product can still contain sweeteners: Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free declares 0g sugars and lists acesulfame K and sucralose.
What should I pack if I have not checked the school’s drinks policy?
Plain still water is the straightforward starting point because it avoids questions about flavourings and carbonation. Check the school’s own policy when you can; London City Hall’s water-only schools toolkit describes plain water and plain reduced-fat milk as permitted drinks in a water-only school.
Do England’s school-food rules automatically cover drinks packed from home?
The Department for Education’s school-food guidance addresses food and drink provided in state-funded schools in England. For a packed-lunch drink, check the individual school’s policy rather than assuming that guidance answers what may be brought from home.
Can I pack sparkling water if it has no sugar?
Check the school’s policy first. A drink’s sugar content does not establish whether sparkling water is allowed in packed lunches, and a local water-only policy may have its own wording about permitted drinks.
How should bottled water be stored?
Buxton advises storing its bottles at room temperature or cooler, out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals. Buxton recommends consuming its water within three days after opening; follow the instructions on the bottle you choose.