Afternoon-snack drinkers
If you want a plain fizzy drink with a snack, compare the ingredients and sugars per 100ml on the exact variant, especially when moving between original and flavoured products.
Who is choosing sparkling water?
Regular home and desk drinkers
If you keep sparkling water for repeat use, bottle size and instructions after opening matter as much as the number of bottles in a pack.
People concerned about dental erosion
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies fizzy and fruit-flavoured drinks as acidic and advises reducing how often they are consumed. A sugars figure alone does not answer this concern.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the exact drink and bottle size you would use with a snack, then check the label and instructions for that pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the ingredient list and sugars per 100ml on the exact variant. Do not use a plain product’s figures for a flavoured one. | I want the drink alongside my snack without adding sugar from the drink itself. |
| Bottle format | Compare an individual 500ml bottle with larger bottles and multipacks. Check whether the container can be closed again after opening. | A single bottle is easier for me to take out; at home or at a desk, I may prefer several servings from a larger pack. |
| Storage after opening | Read the instructions for the particular bottle. The cited Tesco and Sainsbury’s 12 x 500ml products both say to refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days. | If I rarely finish a larger bottle at once, its opened-bottle instructions affect which size is practical. |
| Plain or flavoured | Check the named variant, ingredients and nutrition panel rather than relying on the brand. Perrier lists both Original and flavoured variants on its international site. | I might want a flavoured drink, but I still want to know what is in that specific bottle. |
| Drinking frequency | Consider how often you have fizzy drinks. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies fizzy and fruit-flavoured drinks as acidic and advises reducing their frequency. | If I sip fizzy drinks throughout the afternoon, I want to consider acidity separately from sugars. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every sparkling water has the same ingredients
Plain and flavoured variants can have different formulations, even within one brand’s range.
Check the ingredient list and sugars per 100ml for the bottle you intend to buy.
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Choosing a large pack without considering use
A larger bottle is less practical if you cannot finish it within its instructions after opening.
Compare bottle sizes against your routine and read the pack’s storage guidance.
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Equating no sugar with no dental consideration
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust explains that acid can wear away enamel and identifies fizzy drinks as acidic.
Consider how often you drink them; ask a dental professional for advice about individual concerns.
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Relying on an online description instead of the pack
Tesco and M&S advise checking product labels because food information can change.
Read the current ingredients, nutrition and storage instructions on the product, particularly when choosing a flavoured variant.
Brand references
These examples show different water types and formats; a brand name alone does not establish the formulation of every variant.
San Pellegrino
Its cited plain sparkling natural mineral water comes in a 6 x 1L pack that could be used for repeat snacks or sharing.
- The cited Joybuy 6 x 1L product lists natural mineral water and carbon dioxide, with 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Check the label of any other format or variant separately.
Perrier
Perrier lists Original and flavoured carbonated mineral-water variants on its international site.
- The range offers a choice between an original and named flavoured variants.
- Check the exact UK product label and variant when buying; the international range is not a listing for a particular UK bottle.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists sparkling water in 500ml and 1.5L bottles and a 6 x 1L multipack.
- Those formats allow a choice between an individual bottle and a pack for repeat use.
- Use the exact product label for nutrition and instructions after opening.
Tesco
Tesco lists own-brand sparkling natural mineral water in several bottle and pack formats.
- Its cited 12 x 500ml product is identified as carbonated natural mineral water.
- That product’s page says to refrigerate after opening and consume within 3 days; read the label for the pack you choose.
Sainsbury's
The cited own-brand sparkling spring water comes in a 12 x 500ml pack.
- Its listed ingredients are spring water and carbon dioxide.
- The cited product says to refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days; this instruction is specific to that product.
M&S
M&S lists a 750ml Collection sparkling natural mineral water for a shared snack or food occasion.
- The cited bottle provides a format between an individual 500ml bottle and a 1L bottle.
- M&S says to refrigerate this product after opening and consume it within 3 days, and advises reading the product label.
Sparkling water options on Joybuy
These plain sparkling-water options include 500ml containers for individual afternoon snacks and 1L bottles for repeat home or desk use. Check each exact pack when deciding between them.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 1L
Six 1L bottles suit repeat use at home or at a desk. The cited listing gives natural mineral water and carbon dioxide as ingredients and reports 0g sugars per 100ml. Check the pack’s instructions after opening.
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Buxton Sparkling 8 x 500ml
The eight 500ml bottles provide individual portions for snacks away from home. Check the exact pack’s ingredients, sugars per 100ml and instructions after opening.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 x 0.5L
This six-pack uses 0.5L bottles rather than the brand’s 1L format, making each bottle a smaller serving to take with a snack. Check the label for this format’s nutrition and storage instructions.
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Cano Water Sparkling Resealable 12 x 500ml
This 12-pack has resealable 500ml containers for individual afternoon snacks. Read the pack’s ingredients, nutrition and instructions for use after opening.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6 x 1L
Six 1L bottles offer a format for repeat use at home or at a desk. The cited Joybuy listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within 7 days. Check the current nutrition label if the sugars figure matters to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Can plain sparkling water have 0g sugars?
Yes: the cited San Pellegrino 6 x 1L listing reports 0g sugars per 100ml and lists natural mineral water and carbon dioxide as its ingredients. Check the exact label before applying that figure to another bottle, particularly a flavoured variant.
Does 0g sugars remove dental-erosion concerns?
No. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust identifies fizzy and fruit-flavoured drinks as acidic and advises reducing how often they are consumed. A dental professional can advise on individual concerns.
Should I choose 500ml bottles or a larger pack?
Choose by where and how often you will drink them: 500ml bottles provide individual portions to take out, while larger bottles can serve repeat use at home or at a desk. Check the exact product’s instructions after opening before choosing a bottle you expect to use over several days.
What does natural mineral water tell me on a label?
For England, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says water can be recognised as natural mineral water only when it comes from an underground source, the source is protected from pollution and its mineral composition is stated on the label. The term does not replace checking ingredients and nutrition for the exact drink.
Should I check the pack if I know the brand?
Yes. Tesco and M&S advise reading product labels because online food information can change. Check the particular variant’s ingredients, nutrition and storage instructions, especially when choosing between plain and flavoured sparkling water.