Choose an original cola if you want a conventional sweetened version, a zero-sugar variant if sugar content is your deciding factor, or a pack specifically labelled caffeine-free if you want to avoid caffeine; zero sugar alone does not mean caffeine-free. If you plan to buy a drink before security, check your departure airport’s liquid-container rules first. Buying after security avoids that initial screening question, but it does not ensure your preferred variant will be available.
If you are picking up cola with a sandwich, snack or meal, where you buy it matters as well as which variety you choose. GOV.UK says drinks count as liquids at security and container limits vary by airport, so check the rule for your departure point before bringing a drink to screening.
If sugar content guides your choice, compare the sugars figure per 100ml on the exact pack. Coca-Cola GB lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and Pepsi UK lists the same figure for Pepsi Max; their standard versions are distinct products.
Look for a variant explicitly labelled caffeine-free. The standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max ingredient lists include caffeine, whereas Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Zero Caffeine and Pepsi Max No Caffeine are separate variants.
Settle the drink choice by checking sugar, caffeine and ingredients on the pack; then decide when to buy it using the rules for the airports on your journey.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare sugars per 100ml, then check the serving size. Coca-Cola GB lists 10.6g for Original Taste and 0g for Zero Sugar; Pepsi UK lists 4.5g for Classic and 0g for Max, each per 100ml of the cited UK product. | I want to know whether the cola I pick is a sweetened original or a zero-sugar variant, rather than relying on the brand name alone. |
| Caffeine | Read the full variant name and ingredients. Standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max list caffeine; the separately named Zero Caffeine and No Caffeine variants are the choices to look for when avoiding it. | If I am avoiding caffeine, a zero-sugar label on its own does not answer my question. |
| Other ingredients | Check the exact pack’s sweetener declaration and any phenylalanine statement. Coca-Cola GB and Pepsi UK list sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine for the cited standard zero-sugar colas; Pepsi UK also lists these for Pepsi Max No Caffeine. | I need to check particular ingredients, even when the sugar or caffeine description fits what I am looking for. |
| Security timing | Check the container size against each relevant airport’s current liquid rule. GOV.UK says most UK airports restrict containers larger than 100ml at security, while some allow up to 2 litres; Heathrow states that containers up to 2 litres can stay in cabin bags at Terminals 2–5. | I would rather choose when to buy my drink than discover at security that its container cannot go through. |
GOV.UK says the container limit applies to its capacity, not just the liquid left inside it. Most UK airports restrict containers larger than 100ml, although rules vary.
Check your departure airport’s current liquids guidance before taking a can or bottle to security. If its container is not permitted, plan to buy a drink after screening.
The standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max products list caffeine. A zero-sugar choice therefore may not meet a caffeine-free requirement.
Check the complete variant name and ingredient list, and choose a pack explicitly labelled caffeine-free when that distinction matters.
A grocery listing shows products offered through that retailer’s grocery service, not what a particular airport shop has on its shelves.
If you need a specific variant, check the relevant terminal retailer where possible and keep another drink option in mind.
These ranges help distinguish cola variants; a brand or retailer listing does not establish what an airport terminal will stock.
The UK range includes Original Taste, Zero Sugar and Zero Sugar Zero Caffeine, making the complete variant name important when choosing.
Pepsi Classic, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Max No Caffeine provide differently labelled choices for sugar and caffeine preferences.
Tesco Groceries lists cola varieties including Tesco Xero Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max. Its grocery range can help identify variants to consider before travelling.
These canned multipacks span an original cola, standard zero-sugar variants and caffeine-free variants. If you want a can with food during a journey, check the departure airport’s liquid rule before bringing one through security, and check the relevant retailer for the specific variant you want.
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The named No Caffeine variant is worth checking if avoiding caffeine guides your cola choice. This is a multipack of 330ml cans; check the exact pack’s ingredients and your departure airport’s rule before taking a can through security.
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This caffeine-free Pepsi Max variant suits a choice based on both caffeine and sugar: Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for its No Caffeine product. The 330ml cans come in a 24-pack; its cited formulation also lists sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine. Check the airport liquid rule before carrying a can to security.
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For a standard zero-sugar cola rather than a caffeine-free one, Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Pepsi Max and caffeine in its ingredients. This 24-pack contains 330ml cans. Check the pack if sweeteners or phenylalanine matter to you, and check airport rules before carrying a can through security.
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These 330ml cans are supplied as a 12-pack. If sugar or caffeine content is decisive, check the exact pack’s nutrition and ingredient labels rather than treating “Zero” as a caffeine-free label. A can’s 330ml capacity also makes the departure airport’s liquid rule relevant.
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This original, sweetened variant is distinct from the zero-sugar choices: Coca-Cola GB lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml and caffeine flavouring for Original Taste. The 24-pack contains 330ml cans. Check the relevant airport’s rule before taking one to security.
It depends on the container capacity and the airport. GOV.UK treats all drinks as liquids and says most UK airports restrict containers larger than 100ml, while some allow containers up to 2 litres. Check the current rule for your departure airport and any airport where you will pass through security again.
Heathrow states that liquid containers up to 2 litres can stay in cabin baggage at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Heathrow also warns that many other airports still apply a 100ml limit, so check the rules for each airport on your journey.
Yes, buying after you pass departure security avoids taking that drink through the initial screening point. If your journey involves another security check, confirm the rules that apply there before relying on carrying it onwards.
Not necessarily. Coca-Cola GB and Pepsi UK list caffeine in standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max respectively. For a caffeine-free choice, check for a separately labelled variant and read the exact pack’s ingredients.
Read the ingredient declaration and warning statement on the exact pack. The cited Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Max No Caffeine formulations list sweeteners and state that they contain a source of phenylalanine; a sugar or caffeine description alone does not cover those ingredients.