To ask why there are sweeteners in nearly all soft drinks?

[wildlifeWalker]

I've stopped drinking alcohol but would like a replacement drink to put in a wineglass.
Nearly every cordial or sparkling drink I've looked at contains sweeteners which I absolutely hate the taste of. The only thing I've found is Belvoir sparkling elderflower which is nice but pricy!
I would just mix my own with fizzy water if I could find a nice, not too sweet cordial. I thought about pure grape juice but my supermarket doesn't do it.

I like Karma Lemony Lemonade, I have to get it from Amazon but it is the only soft drink I like.

If you like lightly carbonated drinks you might like water kefir.

https://happykombucha.co.uk/products/live-water-kefir-grains-1?variant=41305126469817&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtaOtBhCwARIsAN_x-3LVujVXcpGrUiU59ky7lO7CJg6SIR9ss89UCVyLveap87hFKhLFhk4aAt0dEALw_wcB

Oh also if you have a Heron nearby they've recently had a safe pink grapefruit cordial in for 89p.
I got some flavoured sodas before Christmas too.

I buy Mr Fitzpatrick cordials and mix with fizzy water. They're sweetened with sugar - not artificial sweetener.
I live in the North West so they're easy to find here as the company is Lancs-based. But afaik you can buy online. They're great products.

I hate it. I detest the taste of sweetener and I can always tell.

Another vote for Cawsons, the ones I the cans.
Appletiser as well. That i actually find really sweet so I dilute it with sparling water.

@wildlifeWalker it is due to the sugar tax which was put on all soft drinks to try and curb obesity problems in uk. you can still get the real stuff in foreign countries though. aspartame seems to be the sweetener of choice and it leaves a horrendous aftertaste! as usual, the normal sized people are also being penalised as well as the many obese people!!

sweeteners are in some sauces, pickled onions, cake and protein bars. It’s so important to read labels these days.

I like the M&S fizzy drinks without sweeteners.

They are absolutely vile

And also in lemsip as I found to my cost the other night. Vile

I've just had a quick look on Amazon and saw those. It would probably last me ages as I only ever have a tiny bit of cordial.
Came across some blueberry juice too!

For those that like Appletiser 50% apple juice / 50% fizzy water is a cheaper alternative.

Asda do a non-sweetener apple and mango, and blackcurrant squash.
The Waitrose pink grapefruit is great too

There are some sweeteners in it, but I drink the purple top Vimto - the NOT no added sugar/low sugar version... Its not as full of sugar as it used to be, but just enough I think. I can't stand the no added sugar version... Just doesn't taste right.
I try and avoid most sweeteners if I can help it.... They're worse than sugar for your body... Its all about moderation IMHO, not just saying sugar is bad and replacing it with chenicals. My DD ended up having bed wetting issues which more or less stopped over night when I completely cut out artificial sugar and sweeteners.

Just remembered that M&S do a lemonade in 1 litre bottles that's safe.
Came across a catering tomato ketchup that had sweeteners in - I spend half the time in supermarkets reading labels!
Also be wary of anything labelled new & improved - it rarely has been improved ime

I swear I can still taste sweeteners the morning after drinking them the night before. I had a fanta zero one night and I had that awful aftertaste in my mouth still the next morning despite brushing my teeth. Really put me off. I just drink sparkling water now but it does get a bit boring. I like aqua libra cucumber, mint and lime though when it's on offer. £2 for four cans in Ocado at the mo.

Because companies don't have the confidence that people will pay for their product

Trick or Treat? How Artificial Sweeteners Affect the Brain and Body Authors and reviewers Authors

I make my own lemonade which I really love and it has to be a once in awhile treat as it has a full cup of sugar in it!!
To be fair to the policy writers of the soft drinks levy, we had no idea about the dangers of sweeteners in 2016 when it was introduced.

Surely we did, it’s not that long ago?
Id rather pay the extra for an occasional full sugar drink.
Your lemonade sounds delicious though 😊

We have a soda stream and add either - fresh lemon/lime

• bottled lemon/lime
• grenadine
• cherries & berries cordial Waitrose
• apple & mango cordial Sainsbury's
• blackcurrant cordial Rocks

Can't stand sweeteners either, they make me feel like I need to wee constantly, must irritate my bladder.

If I’m in the pub I’ll get sparkling water with fresh lime squeezed in.
from the supermarket I get either Aqualibra or Purdey’s as neither are sweetened - not with sugar or sweeteners.

eta looks like some Purdeys flavours do have a natural stevia in them

A small glass of fizzy water with a tiny bit of red wine vinegar is gorgeous on a hot summer day. Obviously we are a long way from hot summer days now!

I really like the taste of it - it comes in lots of different fruit flavours. Slightly sweet, not sickly sweet.

@LifeofBrienne
I'll have to try the red wine vinegar too. But yes a looong time till summer.

@HarrietStyles
Sounds perfect - thank you