Hosts avoiding sugars and sweeteners
Plain sparkling water is a straightforward option. For fruit flavour, check that the particular drink states it contains neither sugars nor sweeteners; S.Pellegrino makes both claims for its Essenza range.
Who is choosing the drinks?
Hosts serving guests of different ages
A sharing pack of plain sparkling water gives guests a clearly identifiable unflavoured option. If you also serve flavoured drinks, keep their labels available so guests can check for sweeteners or juice.
Hosts who want a sweet fruit flavour
Sainsbury's lists 1L no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower and Blackcurrant & Cherry sparkling waters. Both contain sweeteners, so they suit a different brief from unsweetened water.
What should you check before buying?
Decide which ingredients are acceptable, then choose a bottle format that fits how guests will be served.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Read the “of which sugars” value and its stated basis, whether per 100ml or per 100g. Check for juice or concentrate in the ingredients: Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its no-added-sugar Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink. | I want to know how much sugar the drink contains, not just whether sugar was added. |
| Sweeteners | Read the ingredients as well as the front label. Sainsbury's lists acesulfame K and sucralose in its Apple & Elderflower water, and sucralose in Blackcurrant & Cherry. | Some guests avoid sweeteners, so I need to identify flavoured options separately from plain water. |
| Flavour | Choose between plain water, a flavoured drink stating no sugars or sweeteners, and a sweetener-containing flavoured water. S.Pellegrino makes the no-sugars, no-sweeteners claim for Essenza; check the exact product label. | For a Halloween drinks table, I may want fruit flavour without assuming that every flavoured bottle has the same ingredients. |
| Serving format | Check bottle size, pack count and fridge space. Sainsbury's labels its 1L Apple & Elderflower bottle as four servings; Highland Spring identifies a 6x1L sparkling-water pack and smaller bottles. | Will guests pour drinks from bottles at a table, use the water as a mixer or take individual bottles? I can plan quantity around the guest count and serving style. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”
Juice can contribute sugars without sugar being added. Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink.
Compare the “of which sugars” line on each candidate's nutrition panel, paying attention to whether values are given per 100ml or per 100g.
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Missing sweeteners in flavoured water
Sainsbury's no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower water lists acesulfame K and sucralose; its Blackcurrant & Cherry water lists sucralose.
If guests avoid sweeteners, check the full ingredients list and keep flavoured bottles identifiable when serving them.
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Choosing a bottle size without a serving plan
Individual 500ml bottles can be handed out, while 1L bottles suit a shared drinks table. The number of bottles you need to chill will differ.
Estimate how the drinks will be served, then check the pack count and available storage space before choosing a format.
Which brands and ranges are relevant?
Highland Spring
Highland Spring presents its sparkling spring water as a plain option with nothing added but bubbles.
- The brand identifies 500ml and 1.5L bottles and a 6x1L multipack.
- It does not provide fruit flavour by itself.
S.Pellegrino
S.Pellegrino's Essenza range is a flavoured sparkling mineral-water option for guests who want to avoid sugars and sweeteners.
- S.Pellegrino states that Essenza contains no sugars or sweeteners.
- Check the exact flavour and pack format when choosing a product.
Perrier
Perrier is another plain carbonated mineral-water reference for a drinks table or separate mixers.
- Perrier states that its carbonated mineral water contains no sugar.
- Plain water does not provide a ready-made fruit flavour.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists 1L no-added-sugar flavoured sparkling waters for sharing.
- Its Apple & Elderflower bottle is labelled as four servings; a Blackcurrant & Cherry option is also listed.
- Both listed flavours contain sweeteners, so check the ingredients if guests avoid them.
M&S
M&S offers a juice-led sparkling drink that needs a different label check from plain sparkling water.
- M&S describes Juicy Apple & Elderflower as having no added sugar and containing over 60% juice.
- Its nutrition information lists 6.6g sugars per 100g, so the no-added-sugar wording does not mean sugar-free.
Tesco
Tesco's sparkling-water listings provide pack-format references for planning a party drinks table.
- Its listings include Highland Spring and San Pellegrino 6x1L multipacks, alongside a Highland Spring 8x500ml format.
- Check the label of the particular drink rather than assuming that a pack-size listing establishes its ingredients or nutrition values.
Plain sparkling water packs on Joybuy
These packs cover plain sparkling water for a Halloween drinks table, from 1L sharing bottles to 500ml bottles that can be handed out individually. Check pack quantity against your serving plan; a fruit-flavoured drink calls for a separate ingredients check.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6x1L
Six 1L bottles provide a plain sparkling-water format for guests pouring drinks at a table. Joybuy identifies the contents as natural sparkling mineral water; choose a separate flavoured option if wanted.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6x1L
This plain sparkling natural mineral water comes in six 1L bottles for a shared drinks table. It is not the flavoured Essenza range; check the particular pack's label for any nutrition requirements.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water, 4 x 8x500ml
Four packs of eight 500ml bottles offer individual bottles for a larger gathering. Account for the storage space needed for four packs.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 0.5L
Six 0.5L bottles suit a plan to hand out plain sparkling mineral water individually. Check whether this pack quantity covers the number of guests and servings you expect.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8x500ml
Eight 500ml bottles provide individual servings of plain sparkling spring water. If a stated sugar value matters to your selection, check the nutrition panel on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a sparkling drink is sugar-free?
No. Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its no-added-sugar Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink, which contains apple juice from concentrate. Read the “of which sugars” value and the ingredients on the particular drink.
What can I serve if guests avoid sweeteners as well as sugar?
Choose plain sparkling water after checking its ingredients, or a flavoured product that explicitly states it contains neither sugars nor sweeteners. Highland Spring describes its sparkling water as having nothing added but bubbles, while S.Pellegrino makes both no-sugars and no-sweeteners claims for Essenza.
How do I choose enough sparkling water for a Halloween party?
Work from your guest count and whether bottles will be shared, used as mixers or handed out. Sainsbury's labels its 1L Apple & Elderflower bottle as four servings, while Highland Spring offers a 6x1L sparkling-water format; check serving sizes and fridge space rather than assuming that four labelled servings equal four full party drinks.
Does serving plain sparkling water change what else is on the party table?
No. Plain sparkling water gives guests a drink option, but it does not change the sugar content of sweets or other drinks. NHS guidance links too much sugary food and drink with tooth decay, so check juice-led and other fizzy drinks on their own labels rather than relying on a no-added-sugar description.