Choose a fizzy drink for taste alongside a pre-workout snack, rather than assuming the drink can replace the food. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advises that a planned snack 60–90 minutes before exercise should include carbohydrate and protein. If you want a multipack, compare sugar separately from caffeine: a zero-sugar drink may still contain caffeine, while a caffeine-free drink need not be sugar-free.
If you want individual cans at home, decide on the snack separately. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate and protein as part of a planned pre-workout snack 60–90 minutes before exercise; the flavour or fizz of a drink does not establish that it meets this need.
Check the exact variant rather than judging by its sugar content. Coca-Cola Great Britain describes Fanta Orange as caffeine free, while Pepsi UK lists caffeine in Pepsi Max and Coca-Cola Great Britain lists it in Dr Pepper Zero.
Pack count and can size help you judge whether a multipack fits your household use. If sugar matters, compare the amount in a whole can: Ocado lists 35g sugars in a 330ml Coca-Cola Original Taste can.
Decide whether you need a snack, then compare drinks by the amount you would consume, their ingredients and the pack format.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Snack or drink | Decide whether you need food before exercise or simply want a drink with it. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes a snack 60–90 minutes before exercise as including carbohydrate and protein. | I want the fizzy drink for taste, but I will choose food separately if I need a pre-workout snack. |
| Sugar per can | Read both the per-100ml and per-can figures on the exact variant. Ocado lists 35g sugars per 330ml Coca-Cola Original Taste can; Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars per 330ml Pepsi Max can. | If I am reducing sugar, the amount in the whole can matters more to me than a flavour name or a figure quoted only per 100ml. |
| Caffeine and ingredients | Read the ingredient list independently of the sugar figure. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in Pepsi Max; Coca-Cola Great Britain describes Fanta Orange as caffeine free. Check any sweeteners or phenylalanine statement on the can if relevant. | I may want a fizzy drink without caffeine, whether or not I also choose a zero-sugar variant. |
| Pack format | Confirm the number and size of cans, the exact variant and current stock before ordering. A 24 × 330ml format appears in the Tesco Pepsi Max and Ocado Coca-Cola Original Taste listings. | Individual cans are convenient at home, but I want a pack quantity that fits how my household will use them. |
Carbonation, sugar or caffeine alone does not establish that a drink provides the carbohydrate-and-protein combination described for a planned snack by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Choose food for the snack need first, taking account of your timing and activity; choose a fizzy drink separately if you want one.
Variants can differ substantially: Ocado lists 35g sugars in a 330ml Coca-Cola Original Taste can, whereas Pepsi UK lists 0g in a 330ml Pepsi Max can.
Compare the nutrition panels for the exact cans you are considering, using the same serving size.
Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars in Pepsi Max but also lists caffeine among its flavourings. Sugar content cannot answer the caffeine question.
Check the ingredient list and any relevant sweetener or phenylalanine statement on the specific variant.
A stated pack size tells you how many cans are offered, not whether that pack is currently in stock or suits your household use.
Confirm the variant, can size and live stock status before ordering, then choose a quantity you expect to use.
These label examples concern named variants, not every drink made by each brand.
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste offer different sugar figures for shoppers who want cola.
Pepsi Max is a named zero-sugar cola to compare if you also check for caffeine.
Sprite Zero is a lemon-and-lime alternative for shoppers who do not want cola.
Fanta Orange is a fruit-flavoured option when avoiding caffeine matters.
Dr Pepper Zero is another named zero-sugar fizzy variant.
These 24-can fizzy drink options suit a choice of drink alongside a separately planned pre-workout snack. Check the exact can label for sugar, caffeine and other ingredients that matter to you.
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A tropical Pepsi Max variant in individual cans for a drink alongside food. The pack contains 24 × 330ml cans; check this variant's sugar figure and ingredients on the label rather than applying figures for standard Pepsi Max.
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A lemonade variant if you prefer a non-cola drink alongside your snack. The pack contains 24 × 330ml cans; check the exact can for its nutrition figures, caffeine information and ingredients.
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A no-caffeine cola variant to consider if caffeine avoidance shapes your drink choice. The pack contains 24 × 330ml cans; check the nutrition panel and ingredients on the exact can.
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A Diet Coke multipack for someone choosing cola as a drink alongside food. It contains 24 × 330ml cans; check the exact label for sugar, caffeine and sweeteners rather than assuming it has the same ingredients as the no-caffeine variant.
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A caffeine-free Pepsi Max variant for shoppers who want cola without caffeine. The pack contains 24 × 330ml cans; use this variant's own label to check sugar and other ingredients.
Do not assume it can. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advises that a planned snack 60–90 minutes before exercise should include carbohydrate and protein; choose food to meet that need and treat the fizzy drink as a separate preference.
No. Zero sugar addresses one part of the drink choice, not the need for a snack or the question of caffeine. Pepsi UK, for example, lists 0g sugars in Pepsi Max and also lists caffeine in its flavourings.
Coca-Cola Great Britain describes Fanta Orange as caffeine free. Pepsi UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi Max, and Coca-Cola Great Britain lists it in Dr Pepper Zero; check the exact variant and current can label before choosing a multipack.
No. The Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 address specified retail promotions and placement in England; regulations 5 and 6 took effect on 1 October 2025. School food in England is addressed separately by the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014. A school provider should check the applicable school-food rules and the exact drink rather than treating a retail promotion rule as a school-meal decision.