New-look bottles lose weight

SHRINKING soft drinks are hitting supermarket shelves in a move some consumers have slammed as sneaky.

Schweppes has trimmed the size of its soda water, mineral waters and mixers from 1.25 litres to 1.1 litres as part of a “sleek” new design.

But the company has denied short-changing shoppers, noting its recommended retail price also reduced from about $2.30 to $2.

Some customers have complained on social media of being charged the same price or more per litre for the smaller product.

Others have vented that the new shape is hard to handle, or have raised environmental concerns.

“New look bottle is OK until you look at the difference ... very sneaky marketing,” Barbara McIntyre posted on Facebook.

Schweppes marketing general manager Lisa Saunders said retailers ultimately set shelf prices and many stores had reduced their prices.

“We were conscious in the redesign to ensure we could make our products available at an attractive price as well as provide consumers with a bottle they would be proud to serve on their tables,” she said.

The carbonated drinks industry is battling increased competition from budget supermarket private labels, and a backlash over sugar.

Schweppes’ new flavoured mineral water variants have an average 24 per cent less sugar than the previous range.

The downsized bottles (pictured) have been introduced for 20 products including soda water, dry ginger ale, and lemon lime and bitters.