TV viewers reducing sugar
If you want an energy-drink-style accompaniment to snacks without sugars, check the declaration for the exact can. A sugar-free label does not tell you how much caffeine it contains.
Who is choosing?
Viewers watching close to bedtime
If the TV session ends near your usual bedtime, caffeine timing matters even when the drink has no sugar. University Hospital Southampton says caffeine can take up to six hours to wear off.
Adults comparing can sizes
If you do want caffeine, compare the amount in the serving you expect to drink. Red Bull states that its 250ml Sugarfree can has 80mg caffeine; Monster Energy lists 150mg for its cited 500ml Ultra can. Check other variants separately.
What should you check?
Decide whether caffeine fits the timing of your TV night, then compare sugars, ingredients and the amount in the whole can.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read the sugars declaration for the exact drink and serving size. For comparison, Tesco lists 19g sugars in a 500ml can of Relentless Origin, while Monster Energy lists 0g for its cited 500ml Ultra product. | I want to choose a drink by its stated sugar content, rather than assuming every energy drink or every variant from one brand has the same ingredients. |
| Caffeine per can | Check the can size and total caffeine in milligrams, not just a per-100ml figure. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy lists 150mg per 500ml for its cited Ultra product. | If I plan to drink the whole can, I want to know how much caffeine that serving contains. I would check a different Ultra or Zero variant on its own label. |
| TV-night timing | Consider when you expect to sleep. University Hospital Southampton says caffeine can take up to six hours to wear off and advises avoiding caffeinated drinks later in the day as part of its sleep-hygiene guidance. | My TV session runs close to bedtime, so a non-caffeinated drink may suit the occasion better than switching only to zero sugar. |
| Sweeteners | Read the ingredients of the exact sugar-free variant if you avoid particular sweeteners. A zero-sugar description does not identify which sweeteners a product uses. | I want to check what replaces sugar in the drink, rather than choosing solely from its front-of-can wording. |
| Pack and portion | Separate the size of each can from the number of cans in a multipack. Compare nutrition and caffeine for one can and for the amount you actually intend to drink. | A multipack may be convenient for several TV nights, but I still want to make the choice one serving at a time. |
| Pregnancy and warnings | The NHS advises no more than 200mg caffeine a day during pregnancy, counting other caffeine sources as well. UK government food-labelling guidance requires a high-caffeine warning for drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre. | If pregnancy guidance applies to me, or I am checking a drink for someone covered by its warning, I need to consider more than its sugar declaration. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating zero sugar as caffeine-free
Monster Energy lists 0g sugar but 150mg caffeine for its cited 500ml Ultra product. Sugar and caffeine answer different questions about a drink.
Decide whether you want caffeine that evening before comparing sugar-free flavours.
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Comparing cans by the front label alone
A 250ml can and a 500ml can are different serving sizes. Red Bull reports 80mg caffeine in its 250ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy lists 150mg in its cited 500ml Ultra can.
Check the total caffeine for the can you expect to finish, and confirm the figure for the exact variant.
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Choosing a caffeinated drink for a bedtime snack
University Hospital Southampton says caffeine can take up to six hours to wear off. Removing sugar does not remove that timing consideration.
For TV viewing close to bedtime, choose a non-caffeinated drink if you do not want to add evening caffeine.
Brand and retailer references
Use these names to narrow down drinks and listings, then check the exact variant: a brand name alone does not establish its sugar or caffeine content.
Red Bull
Its Sugarfree range includes a 250ml can for shoppers considering a smaller zero-sugar serving.
- Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine and has no sugars.
- Sugarfree remains caffeinated, so the time you drink it still matters.
Monster
Its cited 500ml Ultra product offers a larger zero-sugar can than the cited 250ml Red Bull Sugarfree example.
- Monster Energy lists 0g sugar and 150mg caffeine for that 500ml Ultra product.
- Check the caffeine declaration on the particular Ultra variant you choose; the cited figure does not establish every variant’s content.
Relentless
Its Origin 500ml product provides a regular energy-drink example for comparing sugars.
- Tesco lists 19g sugars per 500ml can of Relentless Origin.
- That specific product does not meet a zero-sugar requirement; check any other variant separately.
Lucozade
Lucozade describes Alert as a caffeinated drinks range containing vitamin B3.
- The Alert range offers another caffeinated format to consider if that is what you want.
- Check the exact Alert can for its sugars, caffeine and serving size before comparing it with another product.
Tesco
Tesco is a retailer, not an energy-drink manufacturer; its category includes regular and sugar-free products.
- Its listings include products from Red Bull, Monster and Relentless that can be checked by variant.
- Confirm the current pack and product label when ordering.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a retailer named on Relentless’s retailer locator.
- The locator identifies it as a possible place to look for Relentless products.
- Check the particular listing or can for its variant, pack size and nutrition information.
Joybuy product options
These energy-drink multipacks offer 250ml and 500ml can formats to consider for an earlier TV session. Check the sugar, ingredient and caffeine declarations on the exact variant; a caffeinated option is a different choice from a drink for viewing close to bedtime.
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Red Bull Sugarfree 250ml, 12-pack
This 250ml Sugarfree format suits an earlier TV session if you want an energy drink and intend to check your caffeine intake.
The pack contains 12 cans. Red Bull states that its 250ml Sugarfree can has no sugars and contains 80mg caffeine.
Check the ingredients if you avoid particular sweeteners. For viewing close to bedtime, consider a non-caffeinated drink instead.
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Monster Ultra White 500ml, 12-pack
Consider this larger can format for an earlier TV session only if you intend to account for the caffeine in the whole can.
The pack contains 12 cans of 500ml. Check the Ultra White can for its sugars, sweeteners and total caffeine rather than applying figures for a different Ultra variant.
If the session is close to bedtime, a non-caffeinated drink avoids adding evening caffeine.
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Red Bull Zero 250ml, 4-pack
This four-can pack offers another 250ml format to consider when comparing drinks for an earlier TV session.
Check this Zero variant’s label for sugars, sweeteners and caffeine per whole can; do not use the figure for Red Bull Sugarfree as a substitute.
It is a caffeinated choice, so consider a non-caffeinated drink for viewing close to bedtime.
Questions about energy drinks
Does zero sugar make an energy drink suitable for a late TV night?
Not if your concern is adding caffeine close to bedtime. Zero sugar does not mean caffeine-free: Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine, and Monster Energy lists 150mg for its cited 500ml Ultra product. University Hospital Southampton says caffeine can take up to six hours to wear off, so consider a non-caffeinated drink for a late session.
Should I compare caffeine per 100ml or per can?
Use the per-100ml figure to compare concentration, but check the total for the can you expect to drink. Red Bull reports 80mg in a 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy lists 150mg in its cited 500ml Ultra product. Confirm the amount on any other variant separately.
What caffeine guidance applies during pregnancy?
The NHS advises no more than 200mg caffeine a day during pregnancy. Energy drinks count alongside other sources, including tea, coffee, cola and chocolate, so check the drink’s caffeine amount in the context of what else you consume.
Is an under-16 energy-drink sales ban in force across the UK?
Do not assume there is one rule across the UK. In July 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care announced an intended England-only ban from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval, on sales to under-16s of drinks other than tea or coffee containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre. That announcement does not establish the rules for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
What should I check on an energy-drink label?
Check sugars in the nutrition panel, sweeteners in the ingredients and caffeine for the amount you intend to drink. UK government food-labelling guidance says drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre must carry the warning ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.’