Hosts serving guests with different preferences
Offering regular and zero-sugar cola lets guests choose between the two. Tesco Groceries lists both types in 330 ml can multipacks.
Who is this for?
Hosts looking for a zero-sugar choice
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max each list 0 g sugars per 100 ml on their respective UK manufacturer pages. Check the exact variant rather than assuming every cola in a range has the same formulation.
Hosts including guests who avoid caffeine
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine Free and Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free are described by their manufacturers as both zero-sugar and caffeine-free. Check the pack label for sweeteners and any relevant dietary notices.
What should you check?
Decide which cola variants guests are likely to want, then choose a serving format that fits that mix.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Familiar taste | Ask whether guests want regular cola, zero-sugar cola or both. Check the variant name before choosing a multipack. | I would rather offer two familiar choices than assume everyone wants the same cola. |
| Sugar | Read the sugars figure per 100 ml for the exact variant. The Coca-Cola Company lists 0 g for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and 10.6 g for Original Taste; PepsiCo lists 0 g for Pepsi Max and 4.5 g for Pepsi Classic. | Some guests may want a zero-sugar cola, while others may specifically want a regular one. |
| Caffeine | Look for an explicitly caffeine-free variant; zero sugar alone does not establish that it is caffeine-free. The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo each identify a separate zero-sugar, caffeine-free option. | If someone avoids caffeine, I want a clearly labelled option rather than guessing from the sugar information. |
| Serving format | Compare can count and volume with the number of guests and the variants you plan to serve. Tesco Groceries lists 330 ml multipacks as well as large bottles. | Individual cans would let guests help themselves without opening a large bottle of each variety. |
Common buying mistakes
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Buying only regular cola for a mixed group
Guests who want to avoid sugar would have no zero-sugar cola choice. The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo list 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max, respectively, unlike their regular variants.
If both types are wanted, choose a regular cola alongside a clearly labelled zero-sugar variant.
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Assuming zero sugar means caffeine-free
Caffeine-free versions are separately identified products, so a standard zero-sugar pack should not be treated as the caffeine-free choice.
Where caffeine avoidance matters, look for a pack explicitly marked caffeine-free, such as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine Free or Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free.
Cola brands and retailer references
Coca-Cola
The UK range includes Original Taste, Zero Sugar and a separately named Zero Sugar Caffeine Free variant.
- The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6 g sugars per 100 ml for Original Taste and 0 g for Zero Sugar.
- Do not assume every Coca-Cola variant is caffeine-free. Check zero-sugar packs for sweetener and phenylalanine notices where relevant.
Pepsi
The UK range includes Pepsi Classic, Pepsi Max and a separately named Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free variant.
- PepsiCo lists 4.5 g sugars per 100 ml for Pepsi Classic and 0 g for Pepsi Max; it describes Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free as zero-sugar and caffeine-free.
- Check nutrition and caffeine information on the exact variant rather than applying one product’s details to the whole range.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries is a retailer reference for comparing cola pack formats, not a cola formulation.
- Its cola listings include regular and zero-sugar can multipacks and selected large bottles.
- Check the pack count and volume of the particular listing before choosing quantities for a group.
RC Cola
RC Cola is another named cola brand, but its cited product information concerns a US pack.
- Do not use the US pack’s nutrition or caffeine figures to assess a UK pack; check the label of the product being considered.
Joybuy cola options
These 24-can packs offer individual servings across regular, zero-sugar and caffeine-free cola choices for a garden party.
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Pepsi Max Caffeine Free, 24 × 330 ml
An individual-can option when guests want both zero-sugar and caffeine-free cola. Check the pack’s phenylalanine notice if it is relevant to a guest’s dietary requirements.
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Pepsi Max, 24 × 330 ml
A zero-sugar choice in individual cans for guests who want Pepsi Max. This is not the separately named caffeine-free variant; check the pack’s phenylalanine notice where relevant.
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Coca-Cola Original Taste, 24 × 330 ml
A regular cola in individual cans when guests specifically want Coca-Cola Original Taste. The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6 g sugars per 100 ml for this variant; it is not a zero-sugar or caffeine-free choice.
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Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, 24 × 330 ml
A zero-sugar choice in individual cans for guests who want Coca-Cola. This is not the separately named caffeine-free variant; check the pack’s phenylalanine notice where relevant.
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Pepsi Regular Cola, 24 × 330 ml
A regular cola in individual cans when guests want a sugared Pepsi option. It is not a zero-sugar or caffeine-free choice; check this pack’s own nutrition label rather than applying figures from another Pepsi variant.
Garden-party cola questions
Should I buy cans or large bottles for a garden party?
Choose cans if guests need to select between regular and zero-sugar cola without opening a bottle of each. A large bottle can suit a group expecting to share one particular variant; compare the total volume and your planned mix before deciding.
Which colas list zero sugar?
The Coca-Cola Company lists 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and PepsiCo lists 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Pepsi Max. Check the exact can or bottle because other variants have different formulations.
Can I offer a cola that is both zero-sugar and caffeine-free?
Yes. The Coca-Cola Company describes Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine Free as without sugar or caffeine, while PepsiCo describes Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free as zero-sugar and caffeine-free. Check the selected pack for sweeteners and dietary notices where relevant.
Do England’s HFSS and school-food rules govern a private garden party?
The Department of Health and Social Care’s HFSS guidance addresses qualifying retailer promotions in England, while the Department for Education’s school-food guidance concerns food and drink supplied in state-funded schools in England. Those are different settings from a private garden party; an event supplied through a school needs its own setting-specific check.