Hosts serving individual drinks
Sealed cans let guests take a portion without pouring from a sharing bottle. Check whether each option is plain water or a flavoured drink before buying for a mixed guest list.
Who is this for?
Hosts offering an unsweetened option
If children or other guests will have a choice of drinks, read the sugars line and ingredients rather than assuming every flavoured sparkling water has the same recipe.
Hosts planning drinks and fridge space
Count the individual cans you intend to serve and compare pack volumes. Also check that you have room to chill the quantity you buy.
What should you check?
Start with the drinks you expect to serve, then check the container, recipe and space needed for the packs.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Individual servings | Check the can count and size. Ocado lists Maison Perrier plain water in 8 × 330ml cans, or 2.64L in total; Staples UK lists a 24 × 330ml pack, or 7.92L. | I want guests to be able to take an unopened drink, so I need enough cans for the people likely to choose sparkling water. |
| Plain or flavoured | Read the product name and ingredients. Ocado lists Maison Perrier Passion Fruit as a flavoured 4 × 330ml pack containing carbonated water and natural flavouring; it is not plain water. | A neutral drink matters for some guests; others may prefer a fruit flavour. I would keep the choices distinct. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Check the sugars line per 100ml and the ingredient list, including any sweeteners. Ocado lists 0.0g sugars per 100ml for Maison Perrier Passion Fruit, but that figure does not describe other flavoured drinks. | With children attending, I want an unsweetened choice rather than assuming every fizzy drink has the same sugar content. |
| Container and chilling | Confirm that the listed units are cans, not bottles, and check their size and pack count. Allow space to chill the cans you plan to serve. | I need individual cans that fit the party set-up, not a sharing-bottle multipack bought by mistake. |
Common buying mistakes
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Choosing flavoured water when guests expect plain
Flavoured sparkling water can contain ingredients beyond carbonated water. Ocado’s Maison Perrier Passion Fruit listing, for example, includes natural flavouring.
Keep plain cans identifiable as the water option, and check the full ingredient list before adding a flavoured choice.
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Looking at pack count without planning servings
Ocado’s 8 × 330ml Maison Perrier pack contains eight cans and 2.64L; the 24 × 330ml pack listed by Staples UK contains 24 cans and 7.92L. They cover different numbers of individual servings.
Estimate how many guests may choose sparkling water, account for other drinks and buy the number of cans your serving plan calls for.
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Assuming every sparkling-water multipack contains cans
The Highland Spring formats listed on its website and sparkling-water multipacks in Tesco and Sainsbury’s listings include bottles. A bottle pack changes how drinks are served at the party.
Check the container type, unit size and pack count on the particular listing before checkout.
Brand and retailer references
These listed formats show why it is worth checking the container as well as the brand: some are canned options, while others are bottle multipacks.
Maison Perrier
Ocado lists plain sparkling water in 8 × 330ml cans, while Staples UK lists a 24 × 330ml can pack.
- The two plain-water pack counts suit different individual-serving plans.
- Ocado’s separate 4 × 330ml Passion Fruit pack contains natural flavouring, so check which version you select.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists sparkling-water bottles in 500ml, 1.5L and 6 × 1L formats.
- The listed bottle sizes provide options for individual bottles or sharing.
- Those listed formats do not fulfil a plan specifically calling for cans.
San Pellegrino
Tesco lists a 6 × 500ml sparkling mineral-water bottle pack, and Sainsbury’s lists a 6 × 1L bottle pack.
- The listed formats offer bottle sizes for different serving plans.
- Check the container carefully if sealed cans are part of your party plan.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label sparkling mineral water in 12 × 500ml and 6 × 2L bottle packs.
- These listed packs offer individual bottles and larger sharing bottles.
- Neither listed format is a can multipack.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury’s lists own-label sparkling spring water in 12 × 500ml and 4 × 2L bottle packs.
- The listed sizes allow a choice between individual bottles and sharing bottles.
- Check other listings if the drinks need to be in cans.
M&S
The Marks & Spencer Foodhall water range includes sparkling and flavoured bottled drinks.
- Its listings provide plain and flavoured choices for a bottle-based drinks plan.
- Recipes differ: the listed Blood Orange Sparkling Water includes citric acid, flavourings, a preservative and a sweetener. Read the label if ingredients matter to your guests.
Sparkling-water can options on Joybuy
These can multipacks include plain sparkling water for individual servings and a separate grape-flavoured drink. Check the flavour and pack quantity against your party plan.
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ICELANDIC GLACIAL Classic Sparkling Mineral Water, 10 × 330ml cans
A plain sparkling-water option for individual party servings. The 10-can pack gives you a count to plan against; check how many packs your guest and drinks plan requires.
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Cano Water Sparkling Ring Pull, 24 × 330ml cans
This plain sparkling-water pack suits a plan for 24 individual cans without pouring from bottles. Confirm the pack quantity and availability when ordering.
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Genki Forest Summer Black Grape Sparkling Water, 24 × 330ml cans
A grape-flavoured option for guests who want something other than plain sparkling water. It contains erythritol and sucralose, so check the ingredients against guests’ preferences before buying.
Frequently asked questions
How many sparkling-water cans should I buy for a birthday party?
Start with the guests likely to choose sparkling water and decide whether you are planning one can each or offering it alongside other drinks. For a size comparison, Staples UK lists 24 × 330ml Maison Perrier cans, while Ocado lists an 8 × 330ml pack. Allow for the space needed to chill your chosen quantity.
Is flavoured sparkling water the same as plain sparkling water?
No. Ocado’s Maison Perrier Passion Fruit listing includes natural flavouring, whereas its Original cans are listed as plain sparkling water. Check the ingredient list and nutrition panel if you want a plain option or need to distinguish flavoured drinks.
What should I check when children are attending?
Offer water as a choice and check the nutrition labels of other drinks. The NHS advises that children avoid sugary fizzy drinks and recommends checking drink labels; still water also gives guests an option without carbonation.
When should I chill the cans?
Make room to chill the cans before guests arrive rather than relying on space becoming available during the party. Ocado describes its Maison Perrier Original 8 × 330ml cans as best served chilled.