Travellers buying a drink with an airside meal
If you want one drink to have with food after screening, look for an individual serving at the airport rather than assuming a bottle brought from home will pass security.
Who is this for?
Plain sparkling-water drinkers
If you want carbonated water without added flavourings, read the ingredient list. Sainsbury’s lists spring water and carbon dioxide for its plain sparkling spring water.
Travellers who want flavoured fizz
If flavour matters, check the full formulation. Volvic lists flavourings, citric acid and sweeteners in its Touch of Strawberry Sparkling drink.
What should you check?
Decide when you will buy the drink, then check its ingredients and serving format against what the airport outlet offers.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Security and timing | GOV.UK says containers over 100ml cannot pass security at most UK airports, even when partly full. Check the current rules at departure and transfer airports. | I want a normal-sized drink with my airside meal without depending on a bottle packed before screening. |
| Plain or flavoured | Compare ingredient lists, not just the words “sparkling” or “sugar free”. Sainsbury’s plain sparkling spring water lists water and carbon dioxide; Volvic’s strawberry sparkling drink also lists citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners. | I may want plain carbonated water, or I may prefer fruit flavour and be happy with the ingredients in that particular drink. |
| Serving format | Check the amount in one can or bottle and whether the listing is for a single drink or a multipack. Highland Spring lists a 500ml sparkling bottle, while evian lists a 33cl sparkling can. | For one meal, I want an amount I can use during the wait or journey rather than a pack intended for several occasions. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Packing a standard bottle without checking security rules
Water is a liquid, and GOV.UK says containers over 100ml cannot pass security at most UK airports, even if partly full.
Check the departure and transfer airports’ current rules. If their rules do not permit your bottle, buy your drink after screening or check whether you can take an empty bottle through and fill it airside.
-
Taking “sugar free” to mean plain water
Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sparkling lists citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners; it is a different formulation from plain sparkling water.
If you want unflavoured water, read the ingredient panel. If you want flavour, compare the ingredients of the exact drink you choose.
-
Assuming a grocery multipack will be sold airside
A brand or supermarket listing establishes its stated pack format, not the range at a particular airport outlet.
Choose from the drinks available after security, or check the relevant airport retailer before travelling if a particular format matters to you.
Brand and own-label references
These stated formats and ingredients can help you recognise options, but they do not establish what a particular airport stocks.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists a 500ml sparkling spring-water bottle alongside larger formats.
- The listed 500ml bottle is an individual format.
- Check the selection at your airport if you want this brand specifically.
evian
evian lists sparkling water in a 33cl aluminium can and a 1L plastic bottle in its UK range.
- The 33cl can offers a smaller individual format than a 500ml bottle.
- Check which format, if any, your airport outlet carries.
Buxton
Buxton lists sparkling natural mineral water in 500ml and 1L formats.
- The listed 500ml format can be considered for one serving.
- The range listing does not establish stock at a particular airport.
Volvic
Volvic lists Touch of Strawberry Sparkling as a flavoured drink in a 330ml can.
- The ingredient list identifies the fruit flavouring as well as the carbonated spring water.
- It also lists citric acid and sweeteners, so check the formulation if you want plain water.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists plain sparkling spring water in a 12 × 500ml pack.
- Its listed ingredients are spring water and carbon dioxide.
- A grocery multipack listing does not establish a single-bottle airside option.
Joybuy sparkling drink options
These Joybuy listings are multipacks of plain or flavoured sparkling drinks. Their bottle or can sizes may help you choose a serving format, but the packs are different from buying one drink with an airport meal.
Image unavailable
Cano Water Sparkling Resealable 12 × 500ml
The listing names resealable 500ml sparkling-water containers in a pack of 12. Check the pack label if the precise ingredients matter to your choice.
Image unavailable
San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 0.5L
For a plain sparkling-water option, this listing specifies six 0.5L bottles. It is a multipack rather than one bottle to buy with an airport meal.
Image unavailable
Buxton Sparkling 8 × 500ml
This plain sparkling natural mineral water comes as eight 500ml bottles. Each bottle is an individual serving, while the listing is for the whole pack.
Image unavailable
Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8 × 500ml
The listing names eight 500ml bottles of sparkling spring water. Check the pack label for carbonation and ingredients before choosing this variant; the listing is for a multipack, not a single airport purchase.
Image unavailable
7FRESH Lemon-Flavoured Soda Water Drink 330ml × 6
Choose this route if you want lemon-flavoured fizz rather than plain sparkling water. The listing specifies six 330ml bottles and includes flavouring among the ingredients.
Common questions
Can I take a 330ml or 500ml bottle through UK airport security?
At most UK airports, no: GOV.UK says liquids in containers over 100ml cannot pass security, even when partly full. Rules have changed at some airports, so check the current requirements for your departure airport and any transfer airport.
How can I tell plain sparkling water from a flavoured drink?
Read the ingredients. Sainsbury’s lists spring water and carbon dioxide for its plain sparkling water, whereas Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sparkling lists carbonated spring water alongside citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners.
Which serving size should I look for with an airport meal?
Choose an individual amount that suits your meal and journey. Highland Spring lists a 500ml sparkling bottle and evian lists a smaller 33cl sparkling can; check the actual airside selection before settling on a format.