Campers avoiding added sugar
You want a fizzy drink with food or at the campsite, but need to distinguish a no-added-sugar claim from the total sugars shown on the nutrition label.
Who is choosing?
Flavour seekers avoiding sweeteners
You want something flavoured rather than plain water and also want to avoid both sugars and sweeteners. The ingredients and claims on the exact variety matter.
Campers planning what to carry
You need to consider bottle size, pack weight and your event’s entry rules alongside the drink’s ingredients.
What should you check?
Decide whether you mean no added sugar, no sugars or no sweeteners, then check the pack against your festival plans.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Read the no-added-sugar claim alongside ‘of which sugars’ on the nutrition panel. Compare drinks using the same per-100ml basis where shown. | I want to avoid added sugar without mistaking a fruit-based drink for one with no sugars. |
| Sweeteners and flavour | Check the full ingredients of the exact variety. S.Pellegrino describes its Essenza range as having no sugars or sweeteners; Marks & Spencer lists steviol glycosides in its Lemon and Lime sparkling water. | Flavour matters to me, but I also want to know whether it comes in a drink with sweeteners. |
| Container and pack | Check bottle material, size and the current organiser rules for your festival, campsite and arena. Glastonbury Festival’s 2025 packing guidance prohibited glass; that rule does not establish what another event allows. | I need a pack I can carry and bring into the areas where I plan to use it. |
| Drinks for a long day | Plan how you will carry and obtain drinks during the event. The NHS notes that people may need more fluids in hot environments or during prolonged physical activity. | I want drinks available when I’m away from the campsite for long periods. |
What can catch you out?
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘no sugars’
Fruit-based sparkling drinks can carry a no-added-sugar claim while still containing naturally occurring sugars. Marks & Spencer’s Juicy Pineapple and Passion Fruit drink is one example.
If total sugar matters to you, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures on the current nutrition labels rather than relying on the front of the pack.
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Assuming sugar-free means sweetener-free
Marks & Spencer lists the sweetener steviol glycosides in its Lemon and Lime sparkling water. Sugar wording alone does not identify every ingredient used for flavour.
Read the ingredients of the exact variety if you prefer to avoid sweeteners.
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Choosing the pack before checking festival rules
Glastonbury Festival’s 2025 guidance prohibited glass, but entry rules depend on the event and may differ between the campsite and arena.
Check your organiser’s current terms, then choose an allowed container and a quantity you can carry.
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Relying on a familiar pack design
Plain water, flavoured water and fruit-based sparkling drinks can have different sugar and sweetener information, even when their names sound similar.
Before checkout, match the exact variety to its current ingredients, nutrition panel and pack size.
Relevant brand references
Highland Spring
A plain sparkling-water reference for shoppers comparing individual bottles with larger camp packs.
- Highland Spring describes its sparkling water as having nothing added but bubbles; Tesco lists an 8 × 500ml sparkling-water pack.
- Check the exact pack and its container material against your festival rules.
S.Pellegrino
Its Essenza range is a flavoured-water option distinct from the brand’s other fruit drinks.
- S.Pellegrino says Essenza contains no sugars or sweeteners; Tesco lists Tangerine & Strawberry Essenza in a 4 × 330ml pack.
- Apply that manufacturer statement to Essenza, not to every Sanpellegrino drink.
Perrier
A carbonated mineral-water reference for shoppers considering plain water.
- Perrier states that its carbonated mineral water has no sugar.
- Check the exact variety and container before choosing a pack for your event.
Tesco
Its grocery listings provide examples of both plain sparkling-water packs and flavoured varieties.
- Tesco lists Highland Spring sparkling water in an 8 × 500ml pack and S.Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Strawberry in a 4 × 330ml pack.
- Use the details for the exact drink you select rather than treating a category listing as its ingredients label.
M&S
Its sparkling drinks illustrate why no-added-sugar wording, total sugars and sweeteners are separate checks.
- Marks & Spencer labels its Juicy Pineapple and Passion Fruit sparkling drink ‘no added sugar’ and lists sugars in its nutrition information.
- Its Lemon and Lime sparkling water lists steviol glycosides. Check which of these ingredients and label details matter for your choice.
Plain sparkling water on Joybuy
These packs are plain sparkling-water options in individual-sized and larger bottle formats. Compare their stated ingredients and pack sizes, then check the container material and your festival’s rules.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 0.5L
The six 0.5L bottles offer individual portions for camp use. The listed ingredients are natural mineral water and carbon dioxide, and the nutrition information lists 0g sugars per 100ml. Check the container material against your festival’s rules.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8 × 500ml
Eight 500ml bottles provide individual portions for the campsite, and the listed ingredient is naturally sourced water. Before choosing it as sparkling water, confirm the exact pack: the Joybuy listing’s flavour field says ‘Still’ despite its sparkling title. Check its current nutrition label and container material too.
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Buxton Sparkling 8 × 500ml
This pack provides eight 500ml bottles for individual portions. Its ingredients list carbonated natural mineral water, and its nutrition information lists 0g sugars per 100ml. Check the container material before packing it for your festival.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles offer a larger format for sharing at camp rather than individual 500ml portions. The listed ingredient is natural sparkling mineral water. Check the current sugar information if you need a stated figure, and confirm the container material and event rules.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 1L
The six 1L bottles suit sharing at camp if you can carry the pack. The listed ingredients are natural mineral water and carbon dioxide, and the nutrition information lists 0g sugars per 100ml. Confirm the container material against your festival’s rules.
Common questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a sparkling drink has no sugars?
No. A fruit-based drink can be labelled ‘no added sugar’ and still contain naturally occurring sugars. Marks & Spencer’s Juicy Pineapple and Passion Fruit sparkling drink is an example; read ‘of which sugars’ on the nutrition panel if total sugar is your concern.
Does sugar-free sparkling water contain no sweeteners?
Not necessarily. Marks & Spencer’s Lemon and Lime sparkling water lists steviol glycosides. Check the ingredients of the exact variety if you avoid sweeteners.
What if I want flavour without sugars or sweeteners?
Look for a flavoured variety that explicitly addresses both. S.Pellegrino says its Essenza range contains no sugars or sweeteners; check the exact pack rather than extending that statement to the brand’s other drinks.
Can I bring glass bottles to a camping festival?
Check your event’s current rules before buying them. Glastonbury Festival’s 2025 packing guidance prohibited glass, but that does not establish the rules for another festival or a later event; check both campsite and arena restrictions.
Does sparkling water count towards fluid intake?
Water can contribute to fluid intake. NHS guidance also notes that people may need more fluids in hot environments or during prolonged physical activity, so consider how you will access drinks throughout the festival.