People swapping a sugary fizzy drink
If you want bubbles with an afternoon snack but are watching added sugars, plain sparkling water is a straightforward option. The NHS suggests trying sparkling water if still water does not appeal to you.
Who these options suit
Flavour seekers avoiding sweeteners
A flavoured sparkling water can fit this preference, but flavour alone does not tell you whether sweeteners have been added. Check the ingredients of the exact bottle or can.
Fruit-drink buyers checking total sugars
If a fruit-flavoured drink appeals to you, distinguish its added-sugar claim from its total-sugars figure. Sanpellegrino says its Zero Added Sugar range contains naturally occurring sugar.
What to check before choosing
Decide whether you want plain carbonation, flavour without sweeteners, or a sweet-tasting drink. Then read the ingredients and nutrition panel for the specific product rather than treating different front-of-pack sugar claims as equivalent.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water | Check that the ingredients describe sparkling water without added flavourings or sweeteners. Choose a bottle or multipack size that suits how you will use it. | I want a fizzy drink alongside a snack, without choosing a sweet-tasting option. |
| Flavour without sweeteners | Read the ingredients for sweeteners; a flavoured name is not enough. S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as containing zero sweeteners, but check the exact flavour you buy. | Plain water tastes too neutral to me, but I would rather avoid sweeteners. |
| Sweetened sugar-free drinks | Compare total sugars and calories on the nutrition panel, then check which sweeteners are listed. M&S Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water, for example, lists steviol glycosides. | A sweet citrus or fruit taste matters more to me than avoiding sweeteners. |
| Zero added sugar | Check total sugars as well as the added-sugar claim, and compare calories using the same serving basis. Sanpellegrino says its Zero Added Sugar range contains naturally occurring sugar. | I like a fruit-led fizzy drink, but I do not want to mistake “zero added sugar” for “sugar-free”. |
| Pack and storage | Compare bottle and multipack sizes, then follow the exact product’s instructions after opening. Check the current label if ingredients are important to your choice. | Some days I need one bottle with a snack; at home, a larger pack may be more convenient. |
Label mistakes to avoid
-
Reading “zero added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Sanpellegrino states that its Zero Added Sugar range contains naturally occurring sugar. An added-sugar claim therefore does not answer a question about total sugars in the finished drink.
Read the total-sugars figure and ingredients on the specific can if that distinction matters to you.
-
Assuming “sugar-free” also means “sweetener-free”
The reviewed M&S Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water is described as sugar-free but lists steviol glycosides. S.Pellegrino, by contrast, describes Essenza as containing zero sweeteners.
If you prefer to avoid sweeteners, make the ingredients list your deciding check rather than relying on the sugar wording alone.
-
Relying on an older product description
Ingredients and nutrition information can change. M&S advises shoppers to read the product label.
Check the current label, particularly when a specific ingredient or sugar figure affects your choice.
Brand and retailer references
These ranges illustrate different drink types; a brand name alone does not establish the ingredients of every flavour or pack.
Highland Spring
A plain sparkling-water range with 500 ml, 1.5 L and 6 × 1 L formats listed by Highland Spring.
- Highland Spring says its sparkling water has nothing added but bubbles.
- It is a plain-water choice, not a fruit-flavoured drink.
S.Pellegrino
Its sparkling mineral-water range includes plain water and Essenza flavoured sparkling mineral water.
- S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as having zero calories and zero sweeteners.
- Check the label and pack format of the particular flavour you choose.
Sanpellegrino
Its Zero Added Sugar range is a fruit-flavoured sparkling-drink option rather than plain sparkling water.
- Sanpellegrino states that the range has zero grams of added sugar and less than 21 calories per can.
- The range contains naturally occurring sugar, so check total sugars on the specific can.
M&S
Its sparkling-water range includes plain and flavoured products; the Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water is a 500 ml flavoured example.
- M&S describes that Lemon and Lime product as sugar-free.
- It lists steviol glycosides, so it does not suit a preference to avoid sweeteners.
Tesco
Tesco’s sparkling-water category includes own-label plain water as well as other brands and flavoured options.
- Its category brings different drink types and pack formats together for comparison.
- Check the individual product listing and label rather than assuming all options have the same sugar or sweetener profile.
Perrier
Perrier describes its carbonated mineral water as sugar-free and calorie-free on its international site.
- Its described plain-water product offers a reference point for comparing ingredient lists with flavoured drinks.
- Check the label and pack details of any particular product before comparing it with a UK listing.
Joybuy drink options
These options include plain sparkling water, a peach-flavoured fizzy drink and green-apple sparkling water. Their pack formats differ; check each flavoured drink’s current ingredients and nutrition panel if sugars or sweeteners determine your choice.
No image available
Buxton Sparkling, 8 × 500 ml
The 500 ml bottles provide an individual-bottle format for an afternoon drink. This is the plain sparkling option in the selection; check the current label if a particular sugars figure or storage instruction matters to you.
No image available
Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water, 6 × 1 L
The six 1 L bottles offer a larger plain-water pack for keeping at home. The Joybuy product page identifies the ingredient as natural sparkling mineral water; check the current label for the nutrition figures and instructions you need.
No image available
Woongjin Nature's Marlin Peach Zero PET, 500 ml
This peach-flavoured 500 ml drink is an alternative if you want fruit flavour rather than plain sparkling water. Check its current ingredients for sweeteners and its nutrition panel for sugars and calories; “Zero” in the name does not answer each of those questions.
No image available
Chi Forest Wang Lin Green Apple Sparkling Water, 480 ml × 15
The green-apple flavour offers another alternative to plain sparkling water, in a case of 480 ml bottles. If its sugar profile is central to your decision, check the current label for total sugars, calories and sweeteners rather than relying on a front-of-pack claim.
Questions about sparkling drinks
Can sparkling water replace a sugary fizzy drink with my afternoon snack?
Plain sparkling water is an option if you want a fizzy drink without choosing a sweetened soft drink. The NHS suggests trying sparkling water when still water does not appeal to you; check the ingredients if you choose a flavoured version.
Does “zero added sugar” mean sugar-free?
No. Sanpellegrino says its Zero Added Sugar range contains naturally occurring sugar despite having zero grams of added sugar. Read the total-sugars figure on the specific drink to see what the finished product contains.
How do I find a flavoured sparkling water without sweeteners?
Check the ingredients as well as the front-of-pack wording. S.Pellegrino describes Essenza as containing zero sweeteners, whereas the reviewed M&S sugar-free Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water lists steviol glycosides.
What should I check on a flavoured drink’s label?
Read the ingredients, total sugars, calories and storage instructions on the exact product. If an ingredient matters to you, check the current physical label: M&S advises that product information can change.