Hosts seeking a no-added-sugar label
If the precise claim matters, look for it on the can rather than treating sugar-free or zero sugar as equivalent. Tesco lists PerfectTed Juicy Peach as no added sugar, but its nutrition panel still shows sugars.
Who is choosing the drinks?
Adults comparing caffeine servings
Check caffeine for the whole can, not just per 100ml. Red Bull UK lists 80mg in a 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy UK lists 150mg in a 500ml Ultra can.
Hosts serving guests with different needs
Keep caffeine-free refreshments separate from energy drinks where children, pregnant or breastfeeding guests, or people sensitive to caffeine may help themselves. Read each drink’s warning before serving it.
What should you check?
Decide whether the requirement is a no-added-sugar claim or a drink without sugar, then compare the caffeine serving and on-pack warnings.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim, ingredients and nutrition panel. Tesco lists PerfectTed Juicy Peach as no added sugar but shows 2.9g sugars per 100ml. | I want the words no added sugar on the can, even if the drink contains naturally occurring sugars. |
| Sugar-free option | Check the sugar value and named sweeteners. Red Bull UK says Sugarfree replaces sucrose and glucose with sucralose and acesulfame K. | A drink without sugar suits my shopping list; I do not need a separate no-added-sugar claim. |
| Caffeine per can | Compare the full-can amount and serving size. Red Bull UK lists 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy UK lists 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. | I want to know how much caffeine someone gets from one can, alongside any other caffeinated drinks that day. |
| Shared refreshments | Read the caffeine warning and provide a clearly separate caffeine-free choice. | Children or guests who avoid caffeine may use the drinks cooler, so I do not want energy drinks mistaken for general soft drinks. |
| Current label | Check the can’s ingredients, nutrition table and caffeine information, especially when shopping from an online listing. | I need the drink I serve to match the sugar claim and caffeine amount I planned around. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating no added sugar and zero sugar as identical
A no-added-sugar drink can contain sugars from fruit juice; a sugar-free drink may use sweeteners instead.
Choose the claim that matches your requirement, then read the ingredients and nutrition panel.
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Comparing caffeine only per 100ml
A larger can can contain more caffeine overall. Monster Energy UK lists 150mg for a 500ml Ultra can, while Red Bull UK lists 80mg for a 250ml Sugarfree can.
Compare the amount per container and consider other caffeinated drinks someone may have that day.
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Putting every drink in one unlabelled cooler
Guests may not realise that a drink contains caffeine. Tesco’s PerfectTed Juicy Peach listing warns against use by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people sensitive to caffeine.
Keep energy drinks clearly identified and offer separate caffeine-free refreshments.
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Relying on an older product listing
PerfectTed’s product page and Tesco’s Juicy Peach listing give different sugar figures, which matters when comparing labels.
Use the current can’s ingredient list, nutrition table and caffeine warning for the final choice.
Relevant brand references
PerfectTed
Tesco lists PerfectTed Juicy Peach 250ml as no added sugar, with 80mg caffeine per can.
- The Tesco listing gives the explicit no-added-sugar wording.
- It also lists 2.9g sugars per 100ml; check the current can because Tesco and PerfectTed present different sugar figures online.
Red Bull
Red Bull UK describes Sugarfree as an energy drink without sugars and lists 80mg caffeine per 250ml can.
- A 250ml can gives a stated caffeine amount for comparing servings.
- Red Bull says sweeteners replace sugars; do not assume the can carries a no-added-sugar claim.
Monster
Monster Energy UK lists zero-sugar 500ml Ultra and Zero Sugar drinks, with 150mg and 160mg caffeine per can respectively.
- The brand states both sugar and full-can caffeine amounts for these named drinks.
- These are larger caffeine servings than the cited 250ml Red Bull Sugarfree can; check the exact variant’s label before serving.
Lucozade
Lucozade describes its Zero range as zero-sugar soft drinks, including Orange, Original, Pink Lemonade and Tropical Zero.
- Check an individual product’s caffeine information rather than assuming every drink in the Zero range is an energy drink.
Energy drinks to consider on Joybuy
These options include smaller cans and a 500ml multipack for the BBQ drinks table. Check each can’s sugar wording, caffeine amount and warnings; the products do not all make the same sugar claim.
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PerfectTed Matcha Energy Very Cherry 4x250ml
The 250ml can format may suit a drinks selection built around smaller servings. If no added sugar is essential, confirm that claim, the sugar value and the caffeine warning on the current Very Cherry can.
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Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink 250ml 4 Pack
Consider this when a sugar-free drink meets the requirement, rather than an explicit no-added-sugar claim. Red Bull UK lists 80mg caffeine per 250ml Sugarfree can and says sweeteners replace the sugars.
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CELSIUS Kiwi Guava 12x355ml
This 355ml-can multipack is another option to compare for the BBQ. Read the current can for its sugar claim, caffeine per serving and warnings before deciding whether it fits the drinks table.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 4x500ml
Choose the larger 500ml can format only if it suits how drinks will be served. Check caffeine per can on this pack’s current label before comparing it with smaller cans; the available figures for this product differ.
Questions about BBQ drinks
Can a no-added-sugar energy drink still contain sugar?
Yes. Tesco lists PerfectTed Juicy Peach as no added sugar while showing 2.9g sugars per 100ml. If the amount of sugar matters, read the nutrition panel as well as the front-of-can claim.
Are no added sugar and sugar-free interchangeable?
No. The cited PerfectTed Juicy Peach drink carries a no-added-sugar claim but contains sugars, while Red Bull UK describes Sugarfree as containing no sugars and using sweeteners instead. Check which claim the particular can makes.
How should I compare caffeine between cans?
Use the amount for the whole can, then consider other caffeine consumed that day. Red Bull UK lists 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can, whereas Monster Energy UK lists 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. Check the current label for the exact variant you buy.
Should energy drinks go in a shared cooler?
Keep them clearly separate if children or guests who avoid caffeine may use the cooler. Tesco’s PerfectTed Juicy Peach listing warns that its high-caffeine drink is not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people sensitive to caffeine; provide caffeine-free drinks alongside it.