Drivers choosing a no-sugar caffeinated can
If you are adding an energy drink to your road-trip snacks, check both its sugar description and its caffeine amount. A zero-sugar label does not tell you how much caffeine is in the whole can.
Who is this choice for?
Drivers who prefer a smaller serving
Red Bull states that Sugarfree contains 80 mg of caffeine in 250 ml; Monster Energy lists 150 mg in a 500 ml Monster Ultra can. Compare the complete cans before deciding what to pack.
Travellers choosing a soft drink instead
If zero sugar matters more than choosing an energy drink, Lucozade describes its Zero range as zero-sugar soft drinks. Check the particular bottle if caffeine content is part of your decision.
What should you check before packing a can?
Start with the exact variant and its whole-can serving, then decide whether a drink is appropriate for the journey at all.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and ingredients | Read the exact flavour’s name, ingredients and sugar value on its nutrition panel. Relentless lists sucrose in its Guava ingredients, despite also listing a sweetener. | I want a drink that meets my no-added-sugar preference, not simply one that contains a sweetener. |
| Caffeine per can | Compare the amount for the complete can, not just a value per 100 ml. Red Bull states 80 mg per 250 ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy lists 150 mg per 500 ml Monster Ultra can. | A smaller can with a stated caffeine amount suits me better than automatically opening a larger serving. |
| Drink type | Decide whether you want an energy drink or a zero-sugar soft drink. Check the individual label if caffeine is the reason for choosing it. | For this journey, I may just want a zero-sugar drink alongside my snacks. |
| Warnings | Read the particular can’s caffeine warning and ingredients, especially when choosing a drink for someone else. Check how it fits with other caffeinated drinks you plan to have. | I want to know what is in each can before putting a multipack in the car. |
| Tiredness | Plan a safe place to stop if you become drowsy. Oxfordshire County Council describes a nap and a caffeinated drink as a temporary measure, not a substitute for avoiding tired driving. | If I am too tired to drive, another can is not my plan for continuing the trip. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every zero-sugar can has the same caffeine amount
Red Bull lists 80 mg in a 250 ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy lists 150 mg in a 500 ml Monster Ultra can. The sugar descriptions do not make the servings equivalent.
Compare can size and caffeine per complete can before packing a multipack.
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Taking a sweetener on the label to mean no added sugar
Relentless lists both sucrose and sucralose in Guava. A sweetener in the ingredients is not, by itself, confirmation that a drink meets a strict no-added-sugar preference.
Check the ingredients and nutrition panel for the exact flavour and pack.
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Making caffeine the plan for driving tired
Oxfordshire County Council describes stopping for a nap and having a caffeinated drink as a temporary response to tiredness.
If drowsiness starts, stop somewhere safe and rest rather than relying on another drink to continue.
Allow time in the journey for a safe stop.
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Treating an intended age restriction as a UK-wide rule already in force
In July 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care described an intention to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to children in England using secondary legislation. That announcement does not establish a rule already in force across the UK.
Check current rules where you are buying, the retailer’s age policy and the warning on the particular drink.
Brand and retailer references
Red Bull
Sugarfree offers a smaller no-sugar energy-drink can with a stated caffeine amount.
- Red Bull states that a 250 ml Sugarfree can contains 80 mg of caffeine.
- Sugarfree is still a caffeinated drink; its sugar description does not address tired driving.
Monster
Monster Energy lists Ultra as a 500 ml zero-sugar energy drink.
- The Monster Energy UK listing states 150 mg of caffeine per 500 ml Ultra can.
- Compare its whole-can serving with smaller cans rather than treating zero-sugar drinks as equivalent.
Lucozade
Lucozade Zero is a soft-drink option when zero sugar, rather than an energy-drink serving, is the priority.
- Lucozade describes the Zero range as zero sugar.
- Check the individual bottle label if you need a particular caffeine amount.
Relentless
The exact variant matters for a no-added-sugar choice.
- Relentless lists sucrose in Guava’s ingredients, so that variant does not meet a strict no-added-sugar requirement.
Tesco
Tesco has a sugar-free energy and stimulant-drinks category that can help shoppers compare listed products and pack formats.
- Its category listing includes Red Bull Sugar Free and Monster Ultra or Zero Sugar products.
- Check the exact listing and pack before buying; a category name does not establish every product’s ingredients.
Joybuy energy-drink options
These cans and multipacks offer different sizes and variants to consider for road-trip snacks. Check the particular can’s sugar information, caffeine amount and warnings before choosing.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 6 × 4 × 500 ml
For a larger zero-sugar can to pack separately, this listing specifies 6 × 4 × 500 ml. Monster Energy lists 150 mg of caffeine per 500 ml Ultra can; check the cans’ labels and warnings before setting out.
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CELSIUS Kiwi Guava 12 × 355 ml
The 355 ml cans offer a different pack size for a journey. If no added sugar is essential, check this variant’s ingredients and nutrition panel, alongside its caffeine amount and warnings, before packing it.
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Red Bull Sugarfree 250 ml, 4-pack
This four-pack provides smaller cans for the journey. Red Bull states that each 250 ml Sugarfree can contains 80 mg of caffeine; read the can’s warnings before choosing it.
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Red Bull Zero 250 ml, 8-pack
This listing offers 250 ml cans in an eight-pack. Check the Zero variant’s own sugar value, caffeine amount and warnings rather than applying the figures for Red Bull Sugarfree to it.
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Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar, 12 cans
This 12-can pack is another zero-sugar-labelled variant to consider. Check Green Zero Sugar’s own can size, sugar value, caffeine amount and warnings; do not assume they match Monster Ultra.
Questions about no-sugar drinks and driving
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink is caffeine-free?
No. Monster Energy lists its zero-sugar Ultra can as containing 150 mg of caffeine per 500 ml. Red Bull states that a 250 ml Sugarfree can contains 80 mg, so check caffeine separately from sugar.
How do Red Bull Sugarfree and Monster Ultra compare for a road trip?
Choose by the serving you intend to drink: Red Bull states 80 mg of caffeine per 250 ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy lists 150 mg per 500 ml Ultra can. If you prefer a smaller can with a lower stated whole-can caffeine amount, Sugarfree fits that condition; Ultra is the larger option.
Can I rely on an energy drink if I feel sleepy while driving?
No. Stop somewhere safe and rest if you become drowsy. Oxfordshire County Council describes stopping for a nap and drinking a caffeinated drink as a temporary measure, not a reason to keep driving while tired.
Does Relentless Guava meet a strict no-added-sugar preference?
No. Relentless lists sucrose in Guava’s ingredients, as well as sucralose. Check each flavour’s own ingredients rather than judging the range by a sweetener or another variant.
Is an under-16 energy-drink sales ban already in force across the UK?
The Department of Health and Social Care’s July 2026 publication describes an intended ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to children in England using secondary legislation; it does not establish a UK-wide rule already in force. Check current rules where you buy, the retailer’s age policy and the product label.