Night-shift workers tracking caffeine
A stated amount per can makes it easier to count an occasional energy drink alongside coffee, tea and other caffeine consumed during the day.
Who is this choice for?
The useful distinction is whether you need a countable caffeine serving, a particular sugar claim or a drink to have alongside a planned snack.
Shoppers comparing sugar claims
If you want zero sugar, check the nutrition panel as well as the front-of-pack wording. A fruit-containing drink labelled no added sugar may still list sugars.
Workers planning a snack break
A drink can be part of a break, but it does not replace a meal or rest. The Health and Safety Executive advises shift workers to maintain regular meals and treats caffeine or energy drinks as an occasional measure.
What should you check?
Start with the whole-can caffeine amount and the nutrition panel, then consider when you will drink it and what else you will have during the shift.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per can | Compare the stated whole-can amount and can size. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy states 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. Check the amount on the variant you buy. | I want to count this drink alongside coffee, tea or other caffeine, rather than treating every can as the same serving. |
| Sugar wording | Read the claim and the sugars figure on the nutrition panel. Monster Ultra is described by Monster Energy as zero sugar; Tesco lists 4.7g sugars per 500ml can for Rubicon RAW Cherry Raspberry Zero Added Sugar. | If I require 0g sugars, I need that figure on the product information, not just the words ‘no added sugar’. |
| Timing and food | Consider caffeine already consumed, the time left before sleep and what you will eat during the shift. The Health and Safety Executive advises regular meals for shift workers and describes caffeine or energy drinks as an occasional measure. | A drink might accompany my snack break, but I still need to plan food, rest and a safe journey home. |
| Warnings and pack | Read the caffeine warning and any suitability advice on the specific pack. Confirm its can size and the number of cans before choosing a multipack. | I want the warning and serving size to apply to the exact drink I am taking to work. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘0g sugar’
A no-added-sugar drink can still contain sugars. Tesco’s nutrition panel lists 4.7g sugars per 500ml can for Rubicon RAW Cherry Raspberry Zero Added Sugar.
If zero sugar is your requirement, check the sugars figure for the exact product rather than relying on the front-of-pack claim.
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Comparing caffeine without checking the whole can
Can sizes change the amount consumed at once: Red Bull states 80mg caffeine in a 250ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy states 150mg in a 500ml Ultra can.
Use the whole-can figure where stated, and count it alongside other caffeine consumed that day. If only a per-100ml figure is shown, check the can volume before calculating the serving amount.
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Using a drink instead of planning for fatigue
The Health and Safety Executive warns that travel after a long or night shift can be risky. An energy drink does not replace meals, rest or a safe journey plan.
Plan food and breaks around the shift. If you feel sleepy when travelling, consider safer transport or stop somewhere safe to rest rather than relying on a drink.
Brands and product lines to recognise
These references describe specific drinks and labels, not every product made by each brand or their availability on Joybuy.
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a smaller-can option when a stated whole-can caffeine amount matters.
- Red Bull states 80mg caffeine per 250ml Sugarfree can.
- Its caffeine still needs counting alongside other sources during the day.
Monster
Monster’s zero-sugar lines include 500ml cans with different stated caffeine amounts.
- Monster Energy states 150mg caffeine for Ultra and 160mg for its Zero-Sugar drink, each per 500ml can.
- Check the exact variant rather than applying one line’s caffeine figure to another.
Tesco / KX
Tesco lists KX No Added Sugar Live as a fruit-juice-containing drink in a 4 × 500ml format.
- The Tesco listing states 30mg caffeine per 100ml, equivalent to 150mg in a 500ml can.
- Check the sugars figure if you need a zero-sugar drink; ‘no added sugar’ is a different claim.
Rubicon RAW
The Cherry Raspberry Zero Added Sugar drink illustrates why the nutrition panel matters alongside the product name.
- Tesco lists 4.7g sugars per 500ml can and 32mg caffeine per 100ml for this variant.
- The no-added-sugar wording does not make this particular drink a 0g-sugar option.
Relentless
Check the individual Relentless variant before treating it as a no-added-sugar option.
- Relentless identifies Tesco and Sainsbury’s among its retailers.
- Relentless describes White Citrus specifically as containing sugar and sweetener.
Joybuy energy-drink options
These Joybuy listings cover smaller and larger sugar-free or zero-sugar energy drinks for a night-shift break. Check the exact pack and its caffeine information when choosing between them.
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CELSIUS Watermelon Strawberry 12 × 355ml
For a shift break when you want a stated whole-can caffeine amount, this listing gives 113.6mg per 355ml serving and 0g sugars. Its product advice says to avoid drinking it before bedtime.
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Red Bull Sugarfree 24 × 250ml
For a smaller can with a stated caffeine amount, Red Bull gives 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; the listing states 0g sugars. Count it with caffeine from other drinks, and check the pack information if a source of phenylalanine is relevant to you.
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Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar × 12
For a larger zero-sugar can, this listing states 0g sugars and 160mg caffeine per 500ml can. Check that whole-can amount against caffeine you have already consumed.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 4 × 500ml
For a 500ml zero-sugar option, this listing states 0g sugars. Check the caffeine amount on the applicable can before using it to plan your total intake; do not apply the figure for another Monster variant without confirming the label.
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Red Bull Zero 8 × 250ml
For a smaller zero-sugar can, this listing states 0g sugars in a 250ml format. Check its own pack label for the whole-can caffeine amount rather than assuming it matches Red Bull Sugarfree.
Questions about night-shift energy drinks
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean an energy drink has 0g sugar?
No. A drink can carry a no-added-sugar claim and still contain sugars. For example, Tesco lists 4.7g sugars per 500ml can for Rubicon RAW Cherry Raspberry Zero Added Sugar. Check the nutrition panel if the amount of sugar is decisive.
How do I compare caffeine in 250ml and 500ml cans?
Compare the amount in the whole can. Red Bull states 80mg caffeine per 250ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy states 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. Confirm the figure for your exact variant and count caffeine from other drinks that day.
Can an energy drink replace a night-shift snack?
No. Plan food separately from any caffeinated drink. The Health and Safety Executive advises shift workers to maintain regular meals and describes caffeine or energy drinks as an occasional measure, not a replacement for rest or a safe journey after work.
What if caffeine warnings apply to me?
Read the warning on the exact can before choosing it. Some of these product listings advise against use by children, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or people sensitive to caffeine. If you need individual advice about caffeine, speak to a suitable healthcare professional.