For curry night, choose a flavour your guests will want, then check the exact drink’s sugars value per 100ml rather than relying on “zero” or “no added sugar” wording. The checked UK pages list 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max, Sprite Zero and Dr Pepper Zero, while The Coca-Cola Company lists 0.4g for Fanta Fruit Twist Zero. Check caffeine and sweeteners too, particularly when buying for someone who avoids them.
If you want fizzy drinks to share with a curry but are looking for less sugar from the drinks, compare the “of which sugars” line on each exact variant. A no-added-sugar name alone does not tell you that the finished drink lists 0g sugars.
Cola, lemon-and-lime and fruit-flavoured options offer different choices around the table. Check ingredients as well as flavour when a guest avoids caffeine.
If aspartame or phenylalanine matters for someone you are serving, read the ingredients and warning on the exact pack before choosing a shared drink.
Start with flavour and pack size for the meal, then use the nutrition panel and ingredients to check whether each option meets your requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read “of which sugars” per 100ml on the exact variant. The Coca-Cola Company lists 0g for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero, PepsiCo lists 0g for Pepsi Max, and Tesco lists 0g for Dr Pepper Zero; The Coca-Cola Company lists 0.4g for Fanta Fruit Twist Zero. | I want to know the drink’s actual sugars value, not just what its name suggests. |
| Flavour | Choose between cola, lemon-and-lime and fruit flavours. Check the individual fruit-flavoured variant rather than assuming its nutrition matches another drink in the range. | Some guests prefer a familiar cola; others would rather have citrus or fruit fizz with the curry. |
| Caffeine | Read the ingredients on the exact pack. The checked Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max and Dr Pepper Zero listings include caffeine; sugar wording does not establish caffeine status. | If someone avoids caffeine, I need to check the drink itself before putting it out to share. |
| Sweeteners | Check the ingredient list for aspartame and the phenylalanine statement. GOV.UK explains the required warning wording for products containing aspartame; the British Dietetic Association highlights its relevance to people living with phenylketonuria (PKU). | When a guest needs to avoid aspartame, I want an alternative whose ingredients I have checked. |
| Pack format | Check the number of cans and volume per can against the number of people you are serving. Compare the actual format, rather than assuming two multipacks contain the same amount. | A smaller group may not need the same pack size as a larger curry-night gathering. |
The wording and the finished drink’s sugars value answer different questions. The Coca-Cola Company lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml for Fanta Fruit Twist Zero, which contains fruit juice from concentrate.
Read “of which sugars” per 100ml for the exact flavour you plan to serve.
The checked ingredients for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max include caffeine; Tesco’s Dr Pepper Zero listing also includes it. Their sugars values do not answer a guest’s caffeine question.
Check the exact pack’s ingredients and any caffeine statement before buying for someone who avoids it.
Several checked drinks contain aspartame. GOV.UK sets out the phenylalanine warning wording used on UK labels, and the British Dietetic Association notes its importance for people living with PKU.
Read the ingredients and warning before serving a shared multipack, and choose another checked option if a guest needs to avoid aspartame.
A familiar name can help narrow the flavour choice, but sugars and ingredients still need checking on the individual drink.
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is a cola option for guests who want that familiar flavour with their meal.
Pepsi Max offers another cola flavour for the table.
Sprite Zero is a lemon-and-lime option when guests would rather not have cola.
Fanta’s fruit-flavoured zero variants offer an alternative to cola and lemon-and-lime drinks.
Dr Pepper Zero offers a distinct flavour choice for guests who prefer it to cola or citrus drinks.
Tesco’s sugar-free fizzy-drinks category includes branded drinks and own-label flavours, including Tesco No Added Sugar Ginger Beer.
These Joybuy options include cola, citrus and apple-flavoured multipacks for sharing. Compare the exact pack labels when sugars, caffeine or sweeteners matter to your guests.
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A cola multipack for guests who prefer Pepsi’s flavour. PepsiCo lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Pepsi Max; its ingredients include caffeine and aspartame, so check the pack if either matters to a guest.
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A cola choice in a 24-can pack for a shared meal. The Coca-Cola Company and the Joybuy product page list 0g sugars per 100ml; the checked ingredients include caffeine and aspartame.
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Consider this 24-can pack when choosing a citrus option alongside cola for curry night. Check its exact nutrition panel, caffeine information and ingredients before serving guests with particular requirements.
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An eight-can option when a smaller group wants lemon-and-lime fizz rather than cola. Check the exact pack’s sugars, ingredients and caffeine information; the checked Sprite Zero formulation includes aspartame.
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An apple-flavoured, 24-can option for guests who would rather have fruit fizz than cola or citrus. Read the exact pack’s sugars value and ingredients, and check its caffeine information if that affects your choice.
No: check the finished drink’s “of which sugars” value as well as its name. For example, The Coca-Cola Company lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml for Fanta Fruit Twist Zero, which contains fruit juice from concentrate.
The checked UK information from The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Tesco lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max, Sprite Zero and Dr Pepper Zero respectively. Confirm the panel on the exact variant you buy.
Yes. The checked Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max ingredients include caffeine, as does Tesco’s Dr Pepper Zero listing. Read the exact pack if a guest avoids it.
It is relevant when a drink contains aspartame and someone you are serving needs to avoid phenylalanine. GOV.UK explains the UK label warning wording, while the British Dietetic Association highlights aspartame’s relevance for people living with phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warning on the exact pack.