BBQ hosts comparing sugar values
If you are buying for several guests, familiar flavours can make up the drinks table, but the sugars figure per 100ml tells you more than the flavour or a no-added-sugar claim.
Who is choosing the drinks?
Groups wanting a caffeine-free choice
A caffeine-free cola gives guests another option alongside standard cola. Pepsi UK identifies Pepsi Max No Caffeine as a separate variant; standard Pepsi Max lists caffeine, as does Coca-Cola Zero Sugar on Coca-Cola Great Britain’s ingredient list.
Shoppers comparing label claims
If 0g sugars per 100ml matters to you, check the nutrition panel rather than treating no added sugar as the same claim. Tesco lists 0g for its No Added Sugar Cream Soda and 0.4g for Fizzio Zero, which contains juice from concentrate.
What should you check?
Start with the sugars figure on the exact drink, then build a mix of flavours and serving formats around the guest list. Check caffeine and sweeteners separately: neither follows from a no-added-sugar claim.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare “of which sugars” per 100ml on the exact flavour. Check for juice ingredients if the front says no added sugar. | I want to know whether the drink actually lists 0g sugars, rather than relying on the wording on the front. Tesco lists 0.4g per 100ml for Fizzio Zero despite its no-added-sugar label. |
| Flavour | Choose between cola, citrus and fruity options by the exact variant name; confirm its own nutrition panel rather than transferring values from another flavour. | Some guests may want something other than cola, so I would put another flavour on the table without assuming its sugar value matches the cola. |
| Caffeine | Read the variant name and ingredients. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi Max and identifies Pepsi Max No Caffeine as a separate option. | I would like a cola choice for guests who prefer to avoid caffeine, without assuming every drink from the same brand is caffeine-free. |
| Sweeteners | Read the ingredient list and any phenylalanine statement. Formulations differ, and the NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU). | For someone who needs to avoid aspartame, I need to check the exact drink rather than choosing on its sugar claim alone. |
| Serving format | Check the number and size of cans or the bottle size against how you plan to serve the group. Follow the storage directions on bottles once opened. | Individual cans may suit a table where guests choose their own flavour; a sharing bottle may suit a smaller selection of drinks. |
| Acidity | Do not equate zero sugar with no dental consideration. The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion because of their acid content. | I can offer water alongside fizzy drinks without presenting a sugar-free option as neutral for teeth. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading “no added sugar” as “0g sugars”
Sugars can come from ingredients such as juice concentrate. Tesco lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml for Fizzio Zero, compared with 0g per 100ml for its No Added Sugar Cream Soda.
Compare the “of which sugars” line per 100ml on each exact product if 0g is your requirement.
-
Buying only standard cola for a mixed group
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and standard Pepsi Max list caffeine. Pepsi Max No Caffeine is a distinct cola variant, according to Pepsi UK.
Check variant names and include a caffeine-free choice if guests would use one.
-
Overlooking aspartame on the ingredients list
Several zero-sugar variants list aspartame and carry a phenylalanine statement. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU.
Check the sweeteners and phenylalanine statement on each exact drink; do not assume all zero-sugar variants use the same ingredients.
-
Assuming sugar-free means neutral for teeth
The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion due to their acid content, whether or not they contain sugar.
Offer water as well as fizzy drinks, and do not treat a zero-sugar label as an answer to the acidity question.
Brand and range references
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is a familiar cola option when the sugars value matters.
- Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
- Its ingredient list includes caffeine and aspartame; check the phenylalanine statement where relevant.
Pepsi
Pepsi Max and Pepsi Max No Caffeine provide caffeinated and caffeine-free cola variants.
- Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars for both variants and identifies No Caffeine as the caffeine-free choice.
- Both list aspartame, so a caffeine-free label does not answer the sweetener question.
Sprite
Sprite Zero offers a lemon-lime alternative to cola.
- Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g sugars for Sprite Zero.
- Its stated sweeteners include aspartame; check the exact variant’s ingredients and phenylalanine statement.
Fanta
Fanta Zero Orange is a fruity option listed in Tesco’s UK fizzy-drink range.
- Tesco lists Fanta Zero Orange in an 8 × 330ml can format.
- Check the exact pack’s sugars figure, sweeteners and serving format before choosing it for the group.
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper Zero adds a flavour choice beyond standard cola and citrus drinks.
- Tesco lists a 2-litre Dr Pepper Zero bottle in its fizzy-drink range.
- Use the exact bottle’s nutrition panel and ingredients to check sugars, caffeine and sweeteners.
Tesco
Tesco’s own-label no-added-sugar bottles show why the nutrition panel matters as much as the front label.
- Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for No Added Sugar Cream Soda.
- Tesco Fizzio Zero also says no added sugar but lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml and contains juice from concentrate.
Fizzy drinks on Joybuy
These cans offer cola, cherry-cola, apple and non-cola choices for a BBQ drinks table. Compare each exact pack’s nutrition panel and ingredients where those details matter to your group.
No image available
Pepsi Max Caffeine Free 24 × 330ml
A caffeine-free cola option in 24 individual 330ml cans for guests choosing their own drink. Check the exact pack’s sugars figure and sweetener ingredients if either is a deciding factor.
No image available
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 24 × 330ml
A cola choice for a BBQ in 24 individual 330ml cans. Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar; its ingredients include caffeine and aspartame.
No image available
7UP Zero 24 × 330ml
A non-cola option in 24 individual 330ml cans for guests who want a choice alongside cola. Check the exact pack’s per-100ml sugars figure and ingredients.
No image available
Pepsi Max Cherry 18 × 330ml
A cherry-cola choice in an 18-can pack of 330ml servings. Check this Cherry variant’s sugars figure, caffeine and sweeteners on its own label rather than relying on details for standard Pepsi Max.
No image available
Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 × 330ml
An apple-flavoured choice in 24 individual 330ml cans. If a particular sugars value or caffeine status matters, check both on the current pack; the sugar-free name alone does not answer every ingredient question.
Questions about the labels
Does “no added sugar” always mean 0g sugars?
No. Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for No Added Sugar Cream Soda, while its Fizzio Zero is also labelled no added sugar but lists 0.4g per 100ml and contains juice from concentrate. Check “of which sugars” on the exact drink if you want a 0g option.
Who needs to check for aspartame?
People with phenylketonuria (PKU) need to avoid aspartame, according to the NHS. Check the exact drink’s ingredients for aspartame or E951 and read its phenylalanine statement.
How can I include a caffeine-free cola?
Pepsi Max No Caffeine is a caffeine-free, zero-sugar cola variant identified by Pepsi UK. Check the name on the pack: standard Pepsi Max and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar list caffeine in their ingredients.
How long can an opened sharing bottle be kept?
For its No Added Sugar Cream Soda 2L, Tesco says to consume the drink within 3 days of opening. Follow the directions on the exact bottle you buy, as they may differ between drinks.