Gamers switching from sugary fizzy drinks
If you want fizz with crisps, popcorn or other snacks but do not want flavourings or sweeteners in the drink, consider a plain sparkling water. Highland Spring, evian and Buxton have plain sparkling options.
Who these choices suit
Solo gamers who prefer a portioned drink
A 330ml can gives you one serving to open for a session. Volvic’s flavoured sparkling cans are sugar-free, but their ingredients include citric acid and sweeteners, unlike the plain-water options.
Hosts of shared gaming sessions
If several people need drinks, compare 1L and 1.5L bottles or multipacks with smaller individual servings. Check how much space you have to store and chill them, and how soon an opened bottle needs using.
What to check before choosing
Decide whether you want a plain or fruit-flavoured drink, then choose a format that fits the number of people and how much you expect to open.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Read the full ingredients list, not just a sugar-free label. Check separately for flavourings, citric acid and sweeteners. | I want fizz beside my snacks without added flavourings or sweeteners, so a plain sparkling water is the route I would check. |
| Flavour | Choose between an unflavoured water and a named fruit flavour. Volvic’s Strawberry and Lemon & Lime sparkling cans are flavoured options. | Do I want the drink to stay plain beside strongly flavoured snacks, or would I rather have a fruit-flavoured drink? |
| Pack size | Compare total litres as well as bottle or can size. Check fridge space and the product’s instructions for use after opening. | For one session, I may prefer a 330ml can or 500ml bottle; for several people, I would consider larger bottles or a multipack. |
| Frequent sipping | Check whether a flavoured drink contains citric acid. Buxton notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies acidic and fizzy drinks as possible contributors to dental erosion. | If I sip a fizzy drink throughout long sessions, its acidity is worth considering rather than assuming every sugar-free option is the same as plain water. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming sugar-free means plain water
Volvic’s Strawberry and Lemon & Lime sparkling drinks are sugar-free, but both contain citric acid, flavourings, acesulfame K and sucralose.
Read the ingredients panel if you want only plain sparkling water, or decide whether those ingredients suit the flavoured drink you want.
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Comparing multipacks by bottle count alone
More bottles do not necessarily mean more water. Bottle size also affects how much you open at one time and how much room the pack needs.
Compare the total litres and individual bottle sizes, then check whether you can store and use the pack conveniently.
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Opening a large bottle for one small serving
Instructions for opened bottles differ. The Joybuy Highland Spring 6 × 1L listing says to refrigerate and use an opened bottle within seven days; the Buxton 1.5L listing says to consume it within three days of opening.
For a solo session, consider a smaller bottle if you are unlikely to finish a large one soon. Follow the instructions for the particular product you buy.
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Overlooking acidity during long sessions
Buxton notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies acidic and fizzy drinks as possible contributors to dental erosion.
If you often sip fizzy drinks for extended periods, consider how frequently you do so and check flavoured products for added citric acid.
Relevant brand references
These brands illustrate different plain, flavoured and pack-size choices; a brand reference does not mean that every product in its range has the same ingredients.
Highland Spring
Its plain sparkling spring-water range includes 500ml and 1.5L bottles and a 6 × 1L multipack.
- Highland Spring describes the range as water with nothing added but bubbles.
- Choose between individual bottles and a multipack according to how much you will open and store.
Buxton
A plain sparkling natural mineral water option with smaller bottles and larger formats, including a 1.5L Joybuy listing.
- Buxton publishes mineral-composition information for its sparkling water.
- Check the storage and post-opening instructions for the pack size you choose.
evian
Its sparkling natural mineral water offers a plain option; evian publishes mineral composition for its 1L bottle.
- The published 1L composition includes calcium at 80mg/L, magnesium at 26mg/L and bicarbonates at 360mg/L, according to evian.
- Those mineral figures alone do not establish a better match for gaming snacks than another plain sparkling water.
Volvic
Its Strawberry and Lemon & Lime sparkling spring-water drinks offer fruit flavour in 330ml cans.
- Volvic labels both examples sugar-free; its product information lists 2 kcal per 330ml Strawberry can and 4 kcal per 330ml Lemon & Lime can.
- Both ingredient lists include citric acid, flavourings, acesulfame K and sucralose, so they are not plain sparkling water.
Tesco
Tesco’s sparkling-water range includes larger own-label formats, such as a listed 6 × 2L pack of British Natural Mineral Water Sparkling.
- The larger pack provides a format to compare by total volume for a shared table.
- Check the current product label and whether the pack size fits your storage space.
Plain sparkling water on Joybuy
These plain sparkling-water bottles cover smaller portions and larger packs for solo, shared or repeat gaming sessions. Compare the size of each bottle with how much you expect to open at once.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8 × 500ml
Eight 500ml bottles provide separate portions for gaming sessions. The listing describes naturally sourced water; refrigerate an opened bottle and use it within seven days.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles provide a plain sparkling option for a shared table or repeat sessions. Allow space for the pack; the listing says to refrigerate opened bottles and use them within seven days.
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Buxton Sparkling 8 × 500ml
Eight 500ml bottles offer individual portions of carbonated natural mineral water. The listing says to refrigerate an opened bottle and consume it within three days.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 0.5L
Six 0.5L bottles provide individual portions beside snacks. The listed ingredients are natural mineral water and carbon dioxide; the listing says to refrigerate after opening and consume within a reasonable time, so check the bottle’s instructions.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles provide larger quantities for sharing or repeat sessions. The listed ingredients are natural mineral water and carbon dioxide; check the packaging for instructions on storing an opened bottle.
Common questions
Should I choose plain or flavoured sparkling water with salty snacks?
Choose plain sparkling water if you want fizz without adding fruit flavour or sweeteners to the drink. If you want fruit flavour, check the ingredients: Volvic’s sugar-free Strawberry and Lemon & Lime sparkling drinks contain citric acid and sweeteners.
Is sugar-free flavoured sparkling water the same as plain sparkling water?
No. Volvic’s Strawberry and Lemon & Lime sparkling drinks are labelled sugar-free, but their ingredient lists include citric acid, flavourings, acesulfame K and sucralose. Check the ingredients rather than using the sugar-free label to judge whether a drink is plain.
What bottle or can size suits a gaming session?
A 330ml can or 500ml bottle gives you an individual portion; 1L and 1.5L bottles or multipacks may be more useful for a shared table or repeat sessions. Compare total litres, storage space and how much you expect to use after opening.
How should I store an opened bottle?
Follow the instructions for the particular bottle. The Joybuy Highland Spring 6 × 1L listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within seven days, while the Buxton 1.5L listing says to consume within three days of opening.
Does frequent sipping of sparkling water matter for teeth?
Frequency and acidity are worth considering. Buxton notes that some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water, and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies acidic and fizzy drinks as possible contributors to dental erosion. Check flavoured drinks for added citric acid, particularly if you sip them throughout long sessions.