Organisers serving mixed preferences
A regular and a zero-sugar cola give attendees a choice of formulations. Consider a separately labelled caffeine-free variety when the event brief calls for one.
Who is this choice for?
Caterers managing self-service drinks
Keep the exact cans or accurate product information accessible so attendees can check ingredients and any label statements that matter to them.
Organisers planning multipack quantities
Compare the can size and count of each exact pack, then confirm availability, delivery timing and date markings before finalising the order.
What should you check before ordering?
Choose the mix of cola varieties first, then check the exact packs and labels you intend to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar choice | Read sugars per 100ml for the exact variant. Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 10.6g for Original Taste; Pepsi UK lists 0g for Pepsi MAX. | I want attendees to be able to choose between a sugar-containing cola and a zero-sugar one. |
| Caffeine | Check the variant name and ingredients separately from its sugar declaration. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi MAX but describes Pepsi MAX No Caffeine as caffeine-free. | For a later session, I may want a cola option for people avoiding caffeine. |
| Label information | Keep the exact product label or accurate ingredient information accessible. Check sweeteners and any phenylalanine statement on the chosen variant. | Attendees should be able to identify what is in the drink they pick up. |
| Serving format | Check can size, pack count and total servings. Confirm the available pack, delivery timing, storage instructions and best-before marking. | I need enough identifiable individual drinks for the service point, without planning quantities from a different pack format. |
Common ordering mistakes
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Assuming zero sugar also means no caffeine
Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi MAX, while Pepsi MAX No Caffeine is a separately named variant.
Specify both requirements when ordering and check the exact variant’s label.
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Ordering by brand name alone
Regular and zero-sugar products within a brand can have different sugar, caffeine and sweetener declarations.
Use the complete product name and check the ingredients and sugars per 100ml for each pack.
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Separating self-service drinks from their information
Attendees may need to check the ingredients of the particular cola they select.
Keep labelled cans or accurate product information accessible at the serving point, and follow the applicable guidance for how the drinks are supplied.
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Planning servings from a pack you have not confirmed
Cola variants appear in different pack formats, so a change of pack can change the number of individual servings.
Confirm the exact can count, availability, delivery timing and best-before marking before placing the order.
Brand ranges to consider
These brand examples illustrate formulation differences; check the named product rather than applying one variant’s label to an entire range.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Great Britain lists Original Taste alongside zero-sugar and caffeine-free variants.
- Original Taste lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml and includes caffeine flavouring.
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine Free lists 0g sugars per 100ml and states that it contains a source of phenylalanine; check the exact variant’s label.
Pepsi
Pepsi UK provides regular, zero-sugar and separately named caffeine-free cola variants.
- Pepsi regular lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml; Pepsi MAX lists 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Standard Pepsi MAX includes caffeine. For a caffeine-free choice, check the specifically named Pepsi MAX No Caffeine and its label statements.
Tesco
Tesco Classic Cola offers an own-label canned format for organisers comparing exact multipacks.
- Tesco describes its 8 x 330ml Classic Cola as a drink containing sugar, sweeteners and caffeine.
- The listed 330ml can contains 14.5g sugars; this variant does not cover a zero-sugar or caffeine-free requirement.
Joybuy cola options
These canned cola options cover sugar-containing and zero-sugar choices, including separately named caffeine-free varieties. Check the exact pack before planning conference servings.
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Diet Coke No Caffeine 24 x 330ml
A separately named caffeine-free, zero-sugar cola for individual service. This is not the sugar-containing choice; keep its product information accessible, including the source-of-phenylalanine statement.
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Pepsi MAX Caffeine Free 24 x 330ml
A zero-sugar, caffeine-free cola in individual cans, rather than a sugar-containing option. Pepsi UK states that this variant contains a source of phenylalanine; retain the exact pack information for attendees.
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Pepsi MAX Cherry 330ml cans
A cherry-flavoured cola choice for individual service. Check the exact pack count before calculating servings, and read its sugar, caffeine and sweetener declarations rather than treating it as a caffeine-free option.
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Pepsi MAX 24 x 330ml
A zero-sugar cola in individual cans. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi MAX and states that it contains a source of phenylalanine, so choose a separately named variant when caffeine avoidance matters.
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Coca-Cola Original Taste 24 x 330ml
A sugar-containing cola for the regular-cola part of a mixed conference range. Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml and caffeine flavouring for Original Taste; it does not cover zero-sugar or caffeine-free requests.
Conference cola questions
Should a conference offer both regular and zero-sugar cola?
Offer both when attendees are likely to have different sugar preferences. Coca-Cola Great Britain lists sugar in Original Taste, while Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Pepsi MAX; neither formulation should be assumed to suit everyone.
Does zero-sugar cola also mean caffeine-free?
No. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi MAX but describes Pepsi MAX No Caffeine as caffeine-free. Check the complete variant name and ingredients when ordering for people avoiding caffeine.
How can attendees check a packaged cola’s ingredients?
Keep the labelled cans or accurate product information accessible at the serving point. The Food Standards Agency distinguishes prepacked from non-prepacked food and drink in its allergen guidance; caterers should follow the requirements that apply to their location and service format, including relevant Food Standards Scotland guidance in Scotland.
Can one zero-sugar variant be assumed suitable for everyone?
No. Pepsi UK and Coca-Cola Great Britain state that the named zero-sugar variants described here contain sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine. Make the exact product information available so attendees can check the label for themselves.