Shoppers stocking up for planned servings
Check the number of cans and the volume of each one against how many servings you intend to keep at home. Packs with similar can counts can contain different total volumes.
Who is choosing a multipack?
Shoppers looking for a sugar-free variant
Check the exact variant rather than relying on the brand name. Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Red Bull Sugarfree, while Sainsbury’s describes Monster Ultra as zero sugar.
Shoppers comparing caffeine per can
Read the labelled caffeine concentration alongside can volume. Tesco lists 32mg per 100ml for Red Bull Original, which works out to 80mg in its 250ml can; the same concentration in a 500ml can would amount to 160mg.
What should you check?
Start with the size of one can, then compare the exact variant’s label and the quantity in the pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Can size | Compare millilitres per can and the number of cans. Decide whether the whole can is your intended serving. | A 250ml can suits me better if I want a smaller amount open at one time; I would choose a larger can only if that size fits my plans. |
| Sugars | Read the sugars value per 100ml on the exact variant. Tesco lists 11g per 100ml for Red Bull Original and 0g per 100ml for Red Bull Sugarfree. | If I am looking for a sugar-free pack, I want that confirmed on the product label rather than assuming every variant from a brand is alike. |
| Caffeine | Read the concentration in mg per 100ml and the can volume. Check the high-caffeine warning, particularly where the drink is intended for a child or someone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or sensitive to caffeine. | I want to know how much caffeine is in the can I plan to open, not just whether the pack says sugar-free. |
| Pack quantity | Multiply the can count by the can volume to understand how much drink the pack contains. Confirm the selected variant and quantity in your final basket. | Before ordering several packs, I want the number and size of cans to match the servings I have planned. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming sugar-free means low caffeine
Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Red Bull Sugarfree but also lists 32mg caffeine per 100ml. The two label details answer different questions.
Check sugars and caffeine separately on the exact pack you intend to order.
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Treating 250ml and 500ml cans as the same serving
At 32mg caffeine per 100ml, a 250ml can contains 80mg and a 500ml can contains 160mg. Can volume matters when interpreting a concentration printed per 100ml.
Choose the can size with the amount you intend to drink at one time in mind.
Brand and range references
Red Bull
Tesco lists Original and Sugarfree multipacks of 12 x 250ml cans.
- Tesco lists 11g sugars per 100ml for Original and 0g per 100ml for Sugarfree.
- Both Tesco labels list 32mg caffeine per 100ml and warn against consumption by children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Monster
The compared Original and Ultra multipacks contain four 500ml cans each.
- Sainsbury’s describes Ultra as zero sugar; it lists 11g sugars per 100ml for Original.
- A 500ml can is twice the volume of a 250ml can. Check caffeine on the current label of the exact variant.
Relentless
Tesco lists Relentless Origin as a four-pack of 500ml cans.
- The four-pack provides a 500ml individual-can format for shoppers who intend to open a larger can.
- Check the current Origin four-pack label for sugars, caffeine and ingredients before ordering.
Lucozade
Tesco lists Lucozade Energy Original as eight 380ml cans.
- The 380ml can is a different individual serving size from the compared 250ml and 500ml formats.
- Check the exact multipack’s current sugars, caffeine and ingredients label when selecting it.
Energy drink multipacks on Joybuy
These multipacks offer different can sizes and variants for a grocery order. Compare each exact pack’s label with the serving size and ingredients you want.
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CELSIUS Kiwi Guava 12 x 355ml
Twelve 355ml cans provide a size between the 250ml and 500ml formats discussed here. Check the exact pack’s sugars, caffeine and consumption warnings before ordering.
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Red Bull Energy Drink 12 x 250ml
The 250ml cans suit a plan to open smaller individual servings. Tesco lists 11g sugars and 32mg caffeine per 100ml for this Original variant, equivalent to 80mg caffeine per can; its label warns against consumption by children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
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Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink 12 x 250ml
This variant pairs 250ml cans with a sugar-free label. Tesco lists 0g sugars and 32mg caffeine per 100ml for the 12-pack; its label warns against consumption by children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
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Rockstar Blueberry & Pomegranate 12 x 500ml
Twelve 500ml cans suit a plan that calls for larger individual cans. Check the exact pack’s sugars, caffeine per can and consumption warnings before choosing that serving size.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 4 x 500ml
This zero-sugar variant contains four 500ml cans. Check caffeine on the current pack label before ordering: the product descriptions give differing concentrations, so a per-can figure should not be assumed.
Questions about choosing a multipack
How do I calculate the caffeine in one can?
Multiply the labelled mg per 100ml by the can volume in millilitres, then divide by 100. For example, a drink labelled 32mg per 100ml contains 80mg in a 250ml can or 160mg in a 500ml can. Use the label on the exact variant you buy.
Can a sugar-free energy drink still contain caffeine?
Yes. Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Red Bull Sugarfree alongside 32mg caffeine per 100ml. Check both entries separately when comparing variants.
What should I check if ordering for someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding?
Check the consumption warning on the exact drink. Tesco’s Red Bull labels and Sainsbury’s Monster labels state that their high-caffeine drinks are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.