Choose plain sparkling water when you want a fizzy drink without the sugar found in many soft drinks; Diabetes UK identifies water as the best all-round drink. If you prefer flavour, compare the sugars figure and ingredients rather than relying on “no added sugar”: some fruit-based sparkling drinks still contain sugars. The NHS also notes that carbonated drinks are associated with dental erosion regardless of their sugar or sweetener content.
Plain sparkling water offers bubbles without choosing a sugary soft drink. Diabetes UK recommends water as an all-round drink and distinguishes sugar-free everyday alternatives from sugary drinks used to treat hypos.
If a bottle says “no added sugar”, check its sugars figure and ingredients. Fruit juice or concentrate can contribute sugars even when none has been added separately.
Zero sugar does not settle the dental question. The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion whether they contain sugar or sweeteners or neither.
Start with the sugars figure, then check what provides the flavour or sweetness. Pack format and the implications of choosing a carbonated drink matter too.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday drink | Check that it is plain sparkling spring or mineral water. Read the current nutrition panel if you need a stated carbohydrate or sugars value. | I want a fizzy alternative to a sugary soft drink without needing a sweet flavour. |
| Fruit flavour | Compare sugars using the same unit on each label; drinks commonly show values per 100ml. Check the ingredients for juice, concentrate or purée. M&S lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink and 7.3g per 100g for Juicy Pineapple & Passion Fruit, despite no-added-sugar wording. | A fruit-flavoured drink appeals to me, but I do not want to mistake “no added sugar” for sugar-free. |
| Sweeteners | Read both the sugars figure and ingredients. Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml and the sweeteners acesulfame K and sucralose in its Apple & Elderflower sparkling drink. | I would like a sweeter-tasting alternative to a sugary drink and am comfortable choosing one with sweeteners. |
| Pack format | Check bottle or can size and the number in the pack, especially when comparing an individual drink with water for home use. | Will smaller bottles suit where I drink it, or would larger bottles be more practical at home? |
| Dental considerations | Do not use zero sugar as a dental-safety claim: the NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion regardless of sugar or sweeteners. | I want to consider how often I choose fizzy drinks, not only what their sugar labels say. |
Fruit ingredients can still contribute sugars. M&S lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink and 7.3g per 100g for Juicy Pineapple & Passion Fruit.
Read the sugars value and ingredients as well as the front-of-pack wording. Keep the displayed unit in mind when comparing products.
Flavoured options differ: Sainsbury's Apple & Elderflower sparkling drink lists acesulfame K and sucralose, while the San Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Strawberry listing says it contains no sweeteners.
Choose according to whether you want plain water, flavour without listed sweeteners, or a sweetener-containing drink; check the current label for the specific variant.
The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion even when they contain no sugar.
Keep that consideration separate from sugar control, and seek individual dental advice if you have tooth wear or sensitivity.
A familiar product name does not tell you its current sugars figure, ingredients or bottle size. These details matter when choosing between plain and flavoured drinks.
Check the individual product label and pack format before buying, particularly when switching flavours or sizes.
These examples show why the exact product and variant matter; a brand name alone does not establish a drink's sugars content.
A plain sparkling spring-water example.
Its range includes plain sparkling mineral water and flavoured Essenza water.
A plain carbonated mineral-water option.
Its listings include plain sparkling water and flavoured drinks with different ingredient profiles.
A retailer whose individual listings can help distinguish water type and pack size.
Its sparkling range includes fruit-based drinks as well as water.
These are plain sparkling spring or mineral-water packs in different bottle sizes. If you need a stated sugars or carbohydrate value for the particular pack you choose, check its current nutrition label.
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A plain sparkling mineral-water option in six 0.5L bottles. Check the current nutrition label if you need to confirm sugars and carbohydrate values for this pack.
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The plain sparkling mineral-water option in six 1L bottles. Compare the larger bottle size with how and where you intend to drink it.
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An eight-bottle pack of sparkling water in 500ml bottles. Check the pack label for the nutrition details relevant to your choice.
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Plain sparkling spring water in eight 500ml bottles. Tesco describes the same named pack as having no sugar and no calories; confirm the nutrition details on the pack you buy.
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A plain sparkling-water choice in six 1L bottles. Check this pack's current nutrition panel if you need an exact sugars or carbohydrate figure.
Plain sparkling water is a straightforward fizzy choice when you want to avoid sugary soft drinks; Diabetes UK identifies water as the best all-round drink. Follow any individual fluid or dietary advice from your care team.
No. Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars without separately added sugar. M&S lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink and 7.3g per 100g for Juicy Pineapple & Passion Fruit, both described as having no added sugar.
Check its sugars figure and ingredient list rather than assuming all flavoured drinks are alike. For example, Sainsbury's Apple & Elderflower sparkling drink lists less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml and contains acesulfame K and sucralose.
No. Diabetes UK distinguishes sugary fizzy drinks used to treat hypos from sugar-free drinks chosen otherwise. Follow your own hypo-treatment plan and care team's advice.
No. The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion regardless of whether they contain sugar or sweeteners. Ask a dental professional for individual advice if you have tooth wear or sensitivity.