For a weekly shop, choose plain sparkling water if you want fizz without a flavoured drink; Highland Spring describes its sparkling range as having nothing added but bubbles. If you prefer flavour, check the ingredients and sugar per 100ml rather than relying on “no added sugar”: Tesco and Sainsbury’s flavoured examples contain sweeteners, while S.Pellegrino says its Essenza range contains neither sugars nor sweeteners. Match bottle size to how quickly your household will use an opened drink, and plan drinks for babies and young children separately.
If you want a repeat-buy drink for the fridge, decide whether plain fizz will do or whether flavour matters. A no-added-sugar flavoured drink can still contain sugars from juice or added sweeteners, as Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry and Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower products illustrate.
If flavour matters but sweeteners do not fit your preference, look for a statement about the specific range and check the bottle. S.Pellegrino says its Essenza range has no sugars and no sweeteners; that description should not be assumed to apply to every flavoured sparkling drink.
For a weekly shop, consider both the total quantity and the size of each bottle. Several smaller bottles may suit individual portions, while larger bottles make more sense when an opened bottle will be finished within its storage guidance.
Start with the kind of drink you want, then choose a bottle format your household can use and store.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read sugar per 100ml on the nutrition panel. Check the ingredients for juice concentrate and named sweeteners; “no added sugar” does not mean neither is present. | I want to know whether I am buying plain water, a drink with no sugars, or a flavoured drink that contains sweeteners. Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry example lists 0.2g sugars per 100ml and sucralose. |
| Flavour | Check the precise product or range, not just the brand. S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as containing no sugars or sweeteners; Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower lists acesulfame K and sucralose. | If plain fizz will not appeal to me, I can choose flavour according to whether I also want to avoid sweeteners. |
| Pack format | Compare bottle size, bottle count and total quantity. Make sure the bottles fit your storage space and typical use. | Smaller bottles suit us if we want individual portions; larger bottles suit us if we will finish each one after opening. |
| After opening | Read the chosen bottle’s storage instructions. Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry and Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower flavoured products both specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening. | We may open several drinks during the week, so I want a bottle size that fits how quickly we finish them. |
| Young children | Plan their drinks separately: NHS guidance says fizzy drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel, and does not recommend diet or reduced-sugar drinks for babies and young children. | If I shop for babies or young children, an adult no-added-sugar fizzy drink is not my default choice for their everyday drinks. |
The wording alone does not tell you the drink’s total sugar content or whether it contains sweeteners. Tesco’s no-added-sugar Apple & Raspberry drink lists juice concentrate, 0.2g sugars per 100ml and sucralose.
Choose which distinction matters to you, then read both the nutrition panel and ingredients list on the bottle you intend to buy.
Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry and Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower products instruct shoppers to refrigerate opened bottles and use them within three days.
Check the storage instructions before choosing between individual portions and a larger bottle.
A partly used bottle may go to waste if it cannot be finished within its stated storage period.
A no-added-sugar label does not make a fizzy drink the default everyday drink for babies or young children. The NHS says fizzy drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel.
Plan drinks for babies and young children separately, following NHS age-appropriate drinks guidance.
These references describe particular ranges and products; check the label of the flavour and pack you choose.
Plain sparkling spring water for shoppers who want fizz without a flavoured drink.
Sparkling natural mineral water, with Essenza as a distinct flavoured range.
Own-label plain sparkling water and no-added-sugar flavoured drinks.
Own-label no-added-sugar flavoured sparkling water in portion-sized bottles.
A retailer range covering plain sparkling water and different kinds of flavoured drinks.
Carbonated mineral water described by Perrier as containing no sugar and zero calories.
These Joybuy options are plain sparkling-water multipacks for households choosing fizz without a flavoured drink. Bottle sizes vary, so choose a format that fits your storage space and how you use opened bottles.
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Plain sparkling mineral water in six 0.5L bottles, a format to consider if you prefer smaller bottles for your weekly shop rather than a flavoured drink.
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Plain sparkling spring water in eight 500ml bottles for a household that prefers smaller bottles to a single large one.
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Plain sparkling spring water in six 1L bottles. Consider the larger bottle size if your household will use each opened bottle within the guidance on its label.
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Plain sparkling mineral water in six 1L bottles for a household choosing larger bottles rather than individual portions.
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Plain sparkling water in eight 500ml bottles, another portion-sized format to consider when stocking up for the week.
No. The wording does not tell you that total sugars are zero. Tesco’s no-added-sugar Apple & Raspberry sparkling drink lists fruit juice concentrate and 0.2g sugars per 100ml, so check the nutrition panel of the product you choose.
Yes. Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry product lists sucralose, while Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower lists acesulfame K and sucralose. Read the ingredients if avoiding sweeteners is part of your choice.
Look for a statement covering both on the specific product or range. S.Pellegrino says its Essenza range contains no sugars and no sweeteners; check the selected flavour and pack label rather than assuming every no-added-sugar drink is the same.
Choose by the portions your household will use and the space available to store them. Check after-opening instructions too: Tesco’s Apple & Raspberry and Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower flavoured products specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening.
Do not treat the no-added-sugar wording as a reason to make it their default drink. NHS guidance says fizzy drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel, and does not recommend diet or reduced-sugar drinks for babies and young children. Plan their drinks separately using age-appropriate guidance.