Shoppers stocking several cans
Pack count alone does not show how much drink you are buying. Multiply the number of cans by their volume, then consider whether that quantity fits your expected use.
Who might choose each format?
Shoppers choosing zero sugar
Monster Ultra and Monster Zero Sugar are distinct ranges. Check the exact variant on a multipack rather than assuming every drink from the same brand has the same sugar content; check caffeine separately.
Shoppers who prefer smaller cans
A 250ml can provides a smaller opened portion than a 500ml can. Red Bull states that its Original 250ml can contains 80mg caffeine; the amount in another variant needs its own label check.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the size and number of cans you expect to use, then compare the sugar and caffeine declarations for the exact drinks in the pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack quantity | Check can count, volume per can and total pack volume. A 24 × 250ml pack contains 6 litres; a 9 × 500ml pack contains 4.5 litres. | I want enough cans to stock up, without choosing a pack solely because its can count looks larger. |
| Sugars | Read the sugars figure for the exact variant, noting whether it is given per 100ml or per can. Check the variant name when choosing a zero-sugar range. | If I am avoiding sugar, I need the zero-sugar version rather than a standard Original can. A larger can also changes the amount consumed if I finish it. |
| Caffeine | Compare caffeine for the whole can at its stated volume, not just per 100ml. Red Bull states 80mg in its Original 250ml can; Monster states 160mg in its Original Green 500ml can. | Before buying several cans, I want to know the caffeine amount in the particular can I would open and how many I expect to drink. |
Common mistakes with multipacks
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Assuming zero sugar means little caffeine
Sugar and caffeine are separate product attributes. A zero-sugar variant should not be judged by the caffeine figure for another drink from the same brand.
Read the exact can’s caffeine declaration in mg per 100ml and account for its full volume.
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Treating different can sizes as the same serving
Red Bull states 80mg caffeine in its Original 250ml can, while Monster states 160mg in its Original Green 500ml can. Those figures describe different products and can volumes, not a brand-wide rule.
Compare the whole-can figures for the variants you are considering, alongside how many cans you intend to use.
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Overlooking who the multipack is for
GOV.UK announced in July 2026 that England plans to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval. That timetable should not be assumed to apply across all UK nations.
When shopping for a household, check the drink’s caffeine labelling and the rules applicable where the purchase is made.
Brand and retailer references
Red Bull
Its Original drink is available in a 250ml can, a format to consider if you prefer a smaller opened portion.
- Red Bull states that an Original 250ml can contains 80mg caffeine.
- Original and Sugarfree are different variants; check the can when comparing sugars.
Monster
The range includes Original Green and distinct Ultra and Zero Sugar variants, including 500ml multipacks.
- Monster states that Original Green contains 160mg caffeine and 55g sugar per 500ml can.
- Do not apply Original Green’s figures to Ultra or Zero Sugar; check the exact variant.
Relentless
Origin is a 500ml canned option also listed in a four-can multipack.
- Tesco’s Origin product information lists 19g sugars per 500ml can.
- Origin contains caffeine; its sugars figure does not establish the caffeine amount in a full can.
Lucozade Alert
Lucozade describes Alert as a caffeinated stimulation-drink range.
- The manufacturer identifies caffeine and vitamin B3 among the range’s ingredients.
- Check the particular can’s volume, caffeine declaration and nutrition table before comparing it with another multipack.
Tesco
Tesco is a retailer rather than a drink manufacturer; its grocery listings provide examples of Red Bull, Monster and Relentless multipack formats.
- Its listings distinguish pack counts and can volumes across several named drinks.
- A retailer listing does not establish that every brand or variant is available for every order.
Joybuy multipack options
These energy-drink multipacks include both 250ml and 500ml cans, with sugared and zero-sugar variants. Compare the stated figures for each exact product rather than transferring them between flavours or pack formats.
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Rockstar Blueberry & Pomegranate 12 × 500ml
This 12-can format is for shoppers planning to use 500ml cans rather than smaller opened portions.
The product description states 200mg caffeine per 500ml can and 4.2g sugars per 100ml. Check the caffeine caution on the pack before buying for a household.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 4 × 500ml
This four-can pack combines a zero-sugar variant with 500ml cans.
The product description states approximately 32mg caffeine per 100ml. Zero sugar does not remove the need to check caffeine for the full can.
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Monster Energy Original Green 9 × 500ml
Nine 500ml cans make this a larger stock-up format for shoppers choosing Original Green rather than a zero-sugar variant.
The product description lists 55g sugars per 500ml can and 32mg caffeine per 100ml. Consider the full-can amounts when deciding how many cans you expect to use.
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Red Bull Energy Drink Original 24 × 250ml
The 24-pack offers smaller opened cans, though its total volume is 6 litres.
The product description states 80mg caffeine per 250ml can. This is the sugared Original variant; check the pack’s sugars declaration if comparing it with Sugarfree.
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Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink 24 × 250ml
This pack pairs 250ml cans with the Sugarfree variant for shoppers who want smaller opened portions without sugar.
The product description states 80mg caffeine per can. There are 24 cans in the pack, so consider whether that quantity matches your intended use.
Questions about buying in bulk
What should I read on an energy-drink can before buying a multipack?
Check the exact variant’s caffeine declaration, sugars information, can volume and best-before date. Department of Health and Social Care guidance says that drinks other than tea or coffee containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre require a high-caffeine warning and a caffeine declaration in mg per 100ml; use the can volume to understand the amount in the whole can.
Does England’s planned under-16 sales rule already apply across the UK?
No UK-wide rule follows from the England announcement. GOV.UK announced on 16 July 2026 that sales of drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre, other than tea or coffee, are due to be banned to under-16s in England from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval; the announcement does not establish the same timetable for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.