Travellers avoiding sugar and sweeteners
If both matter to you, consider plain sparkling water or a flavoured drink that explicitly excludes both. A no-added-sugar claim alone does not tell you whether sweeteners are present.
Who is this choice for?
Travellers open to sweeteners
A no-added-sugar flavoured drink may suit your ingredient preferences even if it contains sweeteners. Read the description and ingredient list on the exact bottle or can.
Travellers planning a drink for their journey
If you want sparkling water with airport food, check your departure airport’s hand-luggage liquid rules before bringing a bottle through security. Buying a drink after security avoids relying on a pre-security bottle allowance.
What should you check?
Choose the ingredient combination you want first, then check the bottle format and where you intend to buy it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sweeteners | Read the full ingredient list as well as any no-added-sugar or sugar-free wording. Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower drink and M&S Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water are described as containing sweeteners. | I want to avoid sweeteners as well as added sugar, so the front-of-pack sugar claim is not enough for my choice. |
| Flavour | Compare plain sparkling water with flavoured products that explicitly state both no sugars and no sweeteners. S.Pellegrino makes both statements for its Essenza range. | I would like flavour, but I do not want to assume every no-added-sugar flavoured drink excludes sweeteners. |
| Airport security | Check the current liquid rules for your departure airport before packing a drink in hand luggage. GOV.UK confirms that liquid restrictions apply at UK airports. | I want a drink with my meal without relying on an assumed allowance for a bottle brought from home. |
| Container and outlet | Check the size and closure of the bottle or can, and confirm what the airport outlet stocks. A supermarket listing does not establish availability after security. | A single container may be convenient with a meal; a multipack only helps if I have a suitable way to use or carry it. |
| Frequent sipping | Consider carbonation separately from sugar content. NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board notes that fizzy drinks are acidic, including those without sugar. | If I expect to sip a drink repeatedly during travel, I also want to consider plain still water. |
What can catch you out?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sweeteners”
Sainsbury’s describes its no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower sparkling drink as containing sweeteners. M&S also describes a sugar-free lemon and lime drink with a sweetener.
If you avoid sweeteners, check the ingredients on the exact container or choose a product that explicitly excludes them.
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Taking a bottle through security without checking
GOV.UK says restrictions apply to liquids in hand luggage at UK airports; you should not assume the same bottle allowance for every departure.
Check your departure airport’s current rules, or buy your sparkling water after security.
A bottle that does not meet the applicable security procedure may have to be left behind.
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Assuming sugar-free fizz has no dental consideration
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board notes that fizzy drinks are acidic and that even sugar-free versions can wear tooth enamel.
If you expect to sip a drink frequently, consider plain still water as another option.
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Confusing grocery listings with airport stock
A product listed by a supermarket is not necessarily stocked by an airport outlet.
Check the airport concession’s current range where possible, and be prepared to choose from the drinks available after security.
Relevant brands and retailers
These product and range examples help distinguish ingredient choices; they do not establish what a particular airport stocks.
Highland Spring
An example of plain sparkling spring water for shoppers who do not want a flavoured drink.
- Highland Spring says nothing is added to its sparkling water but bubbles.
- Check the particular container and airport outlet before relying on it for a journey.
S.Pellegrino
Its Essenza range is a flavoured option for shoppers who also want to exclude sweeteners.
- S.Pellegrino’s UK Essenza page states no sugars and no sweeteners.
- That range statement does not confirm stock at a particular airport.
Perrier
An unflavoured carbonated mineral-water example.
- Perrier describes its carbonated mineral water as containing no sugar.
- Check the specific product and pack size offered where you shop.
Sainsbury’s
A retailer example that shows why sugar and sweetener wording should be read separately.
- Its Apple & Elderflower sparkling flavoured spring water is described as no added sugar.
- The same description says it contains sweeteners.
M&S
Its range provides examples of both plain sparkling mineral water and flavoured sparkling water.
- M&S lists a sparkling natural mineral water.
- Its sugar-free Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water is described as containing a plant-based sweetener; read the current product label.
Tesco
A grocery reference for checking named sparkling-water products and pack formats before travel.
- Tesco Groceries lists Highland Spring and S.Pellegrino sparkling-water products in several formats.
- Its grocery range does not indicate what an airport outlet stocks.
Plain sparkling-water options on Joybuy
These Joybuy listings are for plain sparkling water in multipacks. They are options to consider for the plain-water route, not a list of drinks confirmed for sale at an airport.
No image availableSan Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6 × 0.5L
A plain sparkling mineral-water option if you prefer it to a flavoured drink with airport food. This pack contains six 0.5L bottles; check the current label if you need to confirm the ingredients on the bottles you receive.
No image availableBuxton Sparkling, 8 × 500ml
Consider this sparkling-water multipack if 500ml bottles suit how you plan to use it. Check the current bottle label for the ingredient details that matter to you.
No image availableCano Water Sparkling Resealable, 12 × 500ml
A sparkling-water option if you want a resealable can rather than a bottle. The pack contains twelve 500ml cans; check the current label for the ingredients.
No image availableHighland Spring Sparkling Spring Water, 8 × 500ml
This plain sparkling spring-water pack contains eight 500ml bottles. Highland Spring says nothing is added to its sparkling range but bubbles; check the current bottle label if you need its sugar declaration.
Common questions
Does “no added sugar” mean no sweeteners?
No. Sainsbury’s describes its no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower sparkling drink as containing sweeteners. If you want to avoid both, read the ingredients on the exact product rather than relying on its sugar claim alone.
What if I want flavoured sparkling water without sugar or sweeteners?
Look for a product that explicitly excludes both. S.Pellegrino’s UK Essenza page states no sugars and no sweeteners; check the current container label before buying.
Can I take a bottle of sparkling water through UK airport security?
Check your departure airport’s current rules before taking a bottle through security. GOV.UK confirms that hand-luggage liquid restrictions apply at UK airports, so do not assume a single allowance for every departure. You can instead buy a drink after security.
Does choosing sugar-free sparkling water remove every dental consideration?
No. NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board notes that fizzy drinks are acidic and can wear tooth enamel even without sugar. Plain still water is another option if you expect to sip a drink frequently.
Does a supermarket listing mean I can buy that drink at the airport?
No. A grocery listing does not establish an airport outlet’s range. Check the concession’s current selection where possible, particularly if you need a specific ingredient combination or container size.