For night shifts, choose an energy-drink multipack by the caffeine in each can and when you expect to sleep, then consider sugar content and how many cans you will use. Red Bull states that its Original 250ml can contains 80mg caffeine, while Monster states that Ultra contains 150mg per 500ml can; a zero-sugar label does not remove the need to check caffeine and timing.
For someone choosing when to have a caffeinated drink during a shift. The NHS says caffeine can disrupt sleep rhythms and its effects can last up to seven hours, so the time between a drink and planned sleep matters.
For someone who wants to check sugar per can as well as caffeine. Monster states that Ultra contains 0g sugar per 500ml can; Red Bull Original and the listed Relentless Origin pack contain sugar.
For someone deciding between a few large cans and a larger case of smaller cans. Compare can count, volume, storage space and the amount you expect to use before the best-before date.
Start with what one can contains and when you might drink it; then decide whether the pack quantity fits your shifts.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per can | Read the amount for the whole can, not just per 100ml. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Original can; Monster states 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. Count caffeine from other drinks and products too. | I want to know what a single can adds to my day, especially if I also have coffee or tea. |
| Sleep timing | Consider when you plan to sleep after work. The NHS says caffeine can affect sleep rhythms for up to seven hours; a sugar-free can still contains caffeine if its label says so. | If I sleep soon after my shift, the time I would open a can matters as much as the pack size. |
| Sugar and ingredients | Compare sugars per whole can and check the exact variant. Monster states 0g sugar for Ultra 500ml; Red Bull states 27g sugars for Original 250ml. Check sweetener and phenylalanine wording where relevant. | I may prefer a zero-sugar variant, but I still need to check its caffeine and ingredients. |
| Pack quantity | Check both can count and can volume, plus storage instructions and the best-before date. An 8 × 250ml pack and a 4 × 500ml pack contain the same total drink volume but divide it into different portions. | I want enough cans for planned shifts without committing to more individual cans or larger portions than I expect to use. |
Can sizes and caffeine amounts differ. Red Bull states 80mg in an Original 250ml can, while Monster states 150mg in an Ultra 500ml can; the Relentless Origin 500ml product information lists 32mg per 100ml, equivalent to 160mg per can.
Compare caffeine per whole can on the exact pack, then account for other caffeine you consume that day.
Zero sugar describes sugar content, not caffeine content. The NHS says caffeine can disrupt sleep rhythms and its effects can last up to seven hours.
If you expect to sleep soon after work, check the caffeine amount and think about when you would drink the can.
A case of drinks does not cover the meals and snacks you may need during a shift. NHS guidance on managing tiredness also discusses eating regularly.
Plan food and water separately when deciding what to take to work.
These examples show why the exact range, variant and can size matter more than the brand name alone.
Its 250ml cans offer a smaller individual portion than the 500ml formats discussed here; Original and Sugar Free are distinct variants.
Monster Ultra is a 500ml zero-sugar option for shoppers choosing larger individual cans.
Relentless Origin is represented here by a regular-sugar pack of 500ml cans.
Lucozade Energy Original offers another can format: Sainsbury’s lists a 12 × 330ml multipack.
These packs offer smaller sugar-free cans, regular-sugar 250ml cans and larger 500ml cans to compare for night-shift use. Check each can’s label and the case size before choosing.
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Eight smaller cans may suit a plan to open one 250ml portion at a time. The product description states zero sugar and 80mg caffeine per can. Check the ingredients if a source of phenylalanine is relevant to you, and consider caffeine timing before post-shift sleep.
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This four-pack is for shoppers considering zero-sugar 500ml cans. Check caffeine on the exact pack label before buying: the product description’s approximate per-100ml figure differs from Monster’s stated 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. The larger individual can also matters if sleep follows your shift.
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This larger case keeps individual cans at 250ml for someone planning several shifts. Its description states zero sugar and 80mg caffeine per can. Allow space for 24 cans, check the best-before date and read the ingredients if a source of phenylalanine matters to you.
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This 12-pack offers 250ml cans for someone choosing the regular-sugar variant. Its product information states 80mg caffeine and lists 28g sugars per can; check the pack’s nutrition panel when comparing it with other variants. Consider when you would drink a can if you sleep after your shift.
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This 12-can case is for someone specifically considering 500ml portions and enough storage for them. The product information states 200mg caffeine per can and lists 4.2g sugars per 100ml. Account for other caffeine and planned sleep time before choosing this can size.
Compare the amount in a whole can of the exact variant. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Original can, Monster states 150mg per 500ml Ultra can, and the Relentless Origin product information lists 32mg per 100ml, or 160mg in a 500ml can. Include caffeine from other drinks and products when considering your total intake.
Not necessarily: Monster states that its zero-sugar Ultra 500ml can contains 150mg caffeine. Read sugar and caffeine information separately on the exact pack rather than treating one label claim as an answer to both questions.
Check when you would have the drink before choosing a caffeinated pack. The NHS says caffeine can disrupt sleep rhythms and its effects can last up to seven hours; a zero-sugar drink can still contain caffeine.
For England, the Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education announced a proposed ban on sales to under-16s from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval. It would apply to drinks other than tea or coffee containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre. That announcement is not a current UK-wide prohibition; check the applicable rules and retailer policy where you shop.