Hosts serving mixed preferences
If guests may want different colas, keep regular and zero-sugar packs identifiable so they can choose the variant they intended.
Who is this choice for?
Hosts accommodating caffeine avoidance
Choose a variant explicitly labelled caffeine free. The standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max products listed by their manufacturers contain caffeine flavouring.
Hosts with limited chilling space
Compare the number and size of servings with the space available for storing and chilling drinks. Check the order limit for each pack before planning quantities.
What should you check before buying?
For a street party, decide which cola variants guests need, then work out how many servings you can store, chill and put out.
Regular cola
Choose when: Guests specifically want a sugared cola.
Bear in mind: The checked Coca-Cola Original Taste and Pepsi products contain sugar and caffeine flavouring, according to Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK.
Zero-sugar cola
Choose when: You want a no-sugar option and caffeine is acceptable.
Bear in mind: Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK list caffeine flavouring and sweeteners in their standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max products.
Zero-sugar, caffeine-free cola
Choose when: Guests need a cola option without either sugar or caffeine; Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK identify separate variants for this combination.
Bear in mind: Check the full variant name rather than assuming a standard zero-sugar pack is caffeine free.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and ingredients | Compare sugars per 100ml on the exact variant. Keep ingredient information visible: Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK list sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine for the checked standard zero-sugar products. | I would like guests to be able to tell regular cola from a no-sugar option without guessing from the colour of a cup. |
| Caffeine | Look for an explicit caffeine-free variant and check its label. Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK list caffeine flavouring in their checked standard zero-sugar colas. | If someone avoids caffeine, I need a separately identifiable option rather than just another sugar-free pack. |
| Serving format | Compare pack count and volume. Cans give individual servings; with larger bottles, plan for cups and shared pouring. Check what will fit in your chilling space. | I want guests to serve themselves without opening more containers than the group needs at once. |
| Ordering quantities | Check the order limit for each exact product and confirm delivery for the party address before relying on a planned number of packs. | My supply plan needs to work with the quantities I can actually order and receive for the event. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming zero sugar also means caffeine free
The standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max products contain caffeine flavouring, according to their manufacturers. A guest avoiding caffeine could therefore pick up the wrong variant.
Choose a product explicitly labelled caffeine free when that distinction matters, and keep its packaging available.
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Buying only regular cola for a mixed group
Regular cola does not provide a no-sugar choice. Coca-Cola Great Britain lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Original Taste and 0g per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar; those figures describe those products, not every cola.
If preferences are uncertain, consider a clearly labelled zero-sugar pack alongside regular cola.
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Planning quantities without checking pack limits
A product-specific order limit could prevent you from ordering all the packs in your plan at once.
Check the limit on each exact product and confirm delivery to the party address before settling on quantities.
Relevant brand references
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Great Britain lists separate Original Taste, Zero Sugar and Zero Sugar Caffeine Free products. Check the full variant name when choosing for guests.
- Its product information lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Original Taste and 0g per 100ml for Zero Sugar.
- The standard Zero Sugar product lists caffeine flavouring, sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine; it is not the Caffeine Free variant.
Pepsi
Pepsi UK distinguishes regular Pepsi, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Max Caffeine-Free in its product information.
- Pepsi UK lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml for regular Pepsi and 0g per 100ml for Pepsi Max.
- Standard Pepsi Max lists caffeine flavouring, sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine. Choose the separately named Caffeine-Free product when caffeine avoidance matters.
Cola multipacks on Joybuy
These 24-can packs represent three street-party choices: zero-sugar caffeine-free cola, standard zero-sugar cola and regular cola. Compare their labels with guests’ preferences and the space available for chilling.
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Pepsi Max Caffeine Free 24 x 330ml
For guests who want a cola option without sugar or caffeine. This pack contains 24 individual 330ml cans; keep the packaging available so guests can check the ingredients.
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Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 24 x 330ml
A no-sugar choice when caffeine is acceptable. The pack contains 24 individual 330ml cans. Joybuy lists 0g sugars per 100ml; this variant contains caffeine flavouring, sweeteners and a source of phenylalanine.
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Coca-Cola Original Taste 24 x 330ml
A regular-cola choice for guests who want the sugared variant. The pack contains 24 individual 330ml cans. Joybuy lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml and caffeine-containing flavouring; this is not a no-sugar or caffeine-free option.
Street-party cola questions
Is every zero-sugar cola caffeine free?
No. Coca-Cola Great Britain and Pepsi UK list caffeine flavouring in their standard Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max products, while identifying separate caffeine-free variants. Check the exact product name and ingredient panel.
Should I choose cans or larger bottles?
Choose by how the group will serve drinks and what you can chill. Cans provide individual servings; larger bottles require cups and shared pouring. Compare the total volume you need rather than assuming the formats provide the same number of servings.
Do England’s HFSS promotion rules prevent a private street-party purchase?
No general ban on an individual buying cola for a private street party follows from the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021. The regulations apply in England and address promotion and placement by businesses within their scope; regulations 5 and 6 came into force on 1 October 2025. That does not determine any separate requirements for an event or rules elsewhere in the UK.
Do England’s school-food requirements apply to an ordinary street party?
An ordinary private street party is not automatically a school-food setting. The Department for Education’s school-food guidance concerns food and drink provided in state-funded schools in England. If a school is organising or providing food for the event, check the arrangements with the school.
How should I plan storage for cola multipacks?
Follow the instructions on each pack and check its best-before date. Before ordering, make sure you have room to store the packs and chill the servings you intend to put out.