For a Sunday brunch, compare caffeine and sugar in the whole can before choosing a sparkling energy drink by flavour. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine and 27g sugars in its 250ml Original can; Monster describes Ultra White as zero sugar with 150mg caffeine in 500ml, although the caffeine figure for the Joybuy multipack differs and should be checked on the can. Offer a non-caffeinated choice for children and guests who are pregnant, breastfeeding or sensitive to caffeine rather than making energy drinks the default.
If you want a sparkling can without sugar, compare the exact variant rather than the brand name. Monster describes Ultra White as containing 0g sugar per 500ml; Red Bull lists 27g sugars in its 250ml Original can. Check caffeine separately.
A 250ml serving may be easier to compare with other drinks at brunch than a larger can. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine in its 250ml Original can, while Monster states 150mg in a 500ml Ultra White can. Those figures apply to the named products, not every can from either brand.
Keep an alternative to energy drinks available. The Lucozade Alert Original label warns against serving it to children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people sensitive to caffeine. Guests who are pregnant or breastfeeding also need to consider caffeine from other drinks and foods, as NHS guidance addresses the daily total.
Choose for the people at the table first, then compare whole-can caffeine, sugar and flavour on the exact product you plan to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar per can | Read the sugar figure for the full can, not just per 100ml. Monster describes Ultra White as 0g sugar per 500ml; Red Bull lists 27g sugars per 250ml Original can. | I want a sparkling option without sugar, but I still need to make a separate decision about caffeine. |
| Caffeine and can size | Compare the amount you would drink. Red Bull lists 80mg per 250ml Original can and Monster lists 150mg per 500ml Ultra White can. Tesco lists Lucozade Alert Original at 32mg per 100ml, equivalent to 160mg in 500ml. | A smaller single can matters to me, particularly if coffee or tea will also be served. I will check the caffeine figure on the variant I buy. |
| Flavour and fizz | Check the named variant and pack. Monster describes Ultra White as citrus-flavoured; Lucozade Alert Original is listed as a sparkling drink with sugars and sweeteners. Check the pack if a retailer listing gives conflicting flavour details. | For a daytime meal, I would rather choose a flavour guests actually want than assume all sparkling energy drinks taste alike. |
| Guest suitability | Read the caffeine warning on the can. NHS guidance says people who are pregnant should have no more than 200mg caffeine a day and recommends the same daily maximum while breastfeeding; caffeine from other sources counts too. | If children or caffeine-sensitive guests are coming, I want water and non-caffeinated sparkling drinks available rather than serving energy drinks to everyone. |
Monster describes Ultra White as containing 0g sugar but 150mg caffeine in a 500ml can. Sugar and caffeine answer different buying questions.
Read both figures on the can, especially when choosing a multipack for several guests.
Tesco lists Lucozade Alert Original at 32mg caffeine per 100ml, equivalent to 160mg across its 500ml can. Red Bull lists 80mg in an entire 250ml Original can.
Compare caffeine per can alongside can size and sugar, rather than treating the two concentrations as complete serving information.
Lucozade Alert Original carries a warning for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people sensitive to caffeine. NHS guidance for pregnancy and breastfeeding also concerns caffeine from all sources across the day.
Offer water and non-caffeinated sparkling drinks alongside any energy drinks intended for adults.
Tesco's Relentless Zero Sugar listing names Raspberry in its title but Peach in its description. That difference matters if you are buying for a particular flavour.
Check the product image or packaging, pack size and current listing before placing an order.
These named drinks illustrate different can sizes, sugar contents and flavours; a brand name alone does not identify the nutrition of every variant.
Red Bull Original provides a 250ml sparkling-can reference for adults considering a smaller serving.
Monster's Ultra range includes zero-sugar, fruit- and citrus-style variants in 500ml cans.
Relentless has sparkling fruit-flavoured drinks, including Guava and a separately listed Zero Sugar product.
Lucozade Alert Original is a sparkling 500ml option for adults considering its particular flavour.
These cans and multipacks offer smaller 250ml servings and zero-sugar 500ml options for adults planning a Sunday brunch. Check each variant's label before serving it to guests.
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A multipack of smaller sparkling cans for adults who prefer a 250ml serving.
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A citrus-flavoured sparkling option for adults looking for zero sugar in a larger can.
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A smaller sparkling can for adults who want a sugar-free option.
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A citrus-style sparkling multipack for adults choosing a zero-sugar drink.
No. Lucozade Alert Original's label warns that it is not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women or people sensitive to caffeine. For a mixed group, offer non-caffeinated sparkling drinks and water rather than making energy drinks the only choice.
The Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education announced in July 2026 that England will ban sales to under-16s of drinks, other than tea or coffee, containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre from April 2027. That announcement does not establish the same rule for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
NHS pregnancy guidance says not to have more than 200mg caffeine a day, and NHS breastfeeding guidance recommends no more than 200mg a day. Include caffeine from coffee, tea, cola, chocolate and other sources when considering the daily total; a zero-sugar energy drink is not necessarily caffeine-free.
No. Monster describes Ultra White as containing 0g sugar but 150mg caffeine per 500ml can. Check caffeine and sugar separately on the exact can you buy, particularly as the Joybuy Ultra White multipack listing gives a different caffeine figure.