For an earlier TV session, a sugar-free energy drink may fit if you want caffeine: check the sugar declaration and the caffeine in the whole can. Red Bull says its Sugarfree 250ml can contains 80mg caffeine, while Monster Energy lists 150mg in a 500ml Ultra can. Neither is a caffeine-free choice for late-night viewing; NHS Borders advises avoiding energy drinks close to bed because caffeine can disrupt sleep.
The time you plan to watch TV matters as much as whether the can contains sugar.
If you want an energy drink with your snacks but no sugar, compare caffeine in the whole can before choosing a size. Red Bull lists 80mg in Sugarfree 250ml; Monster Energy lists 150mg in Ultra 500ml. Those figures describe different complete cans, not equal-volume servings.
If TV time runs close to bed, a non-caffeinated drink avoids adding caffeine to the evening. NHS Borders advises avoiding caffeinated drinks, including energy drinks, close to bedtime because they can make you feel more awake and disrupt sleep.
If avoiding sugar is the aim, read the exact can’s nutrition declaration and ingredients rather than relying on its flavour or colour. A zero-sugar energy drink can still contain caffeine; check the amount for the full can separately.
Start with the sugar declaration, compare caffeine per complete can, then decide whether the drink suits the time you expect to finish it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar declaration | Read the nutrition panel and ingredients for the exact drink. Red Bull describes Sugarfree as without sugars; Monster Energy lists 0g sugar for its 500ml Ultra can. | I want a no-sugar drink with my snacks, rather than assuming a lighter-tasting flavour contains no sugar. |
| Caffeine per can | Compare can volume and total caffeine, not just a concentration per 100ml. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy states 150mg per 500ml Ultra can. | A smaller serving may suit me if I want a clearly stated caffeine amount; I would choose a larger can only after considering its full serving. |
| Time before bed | Consider when you will drink it, even if it contains no sugar. NHS Borders advises avoiding energy drinks close to bedtime because their caffeine can disrupt sleep. | For a late-night programme, I would rather choose a non-caffeinated drink than rely on a zero-sugar label. |
| Warnings and ingredients | Read the sweetener list and any high-caffeine warning on the exact can. UK food-labelling guidance requires a warning for drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre. | I need to check whether a particular sweetener or caffeine warning matters for the person who will drink it. |
Sugar and caffeine are separate checks. Red Bull states 80mg caffeine in a Sugarfree 250ml can, while Monster Energy states 150mg in an Ultra 500ml can.
Compare the caffeine amount for the complete can alongside the sugar declaration.
A 500ml Monster Ultra can contains 150mg caffeine according to Monster Energy. NHS Borders advises avoiding energy drinks close to bed because caffeine can disrupt sleep.
Decide on timing before can size. For TV viewing close to bedtime, choose a non-caffeinated drink instead.
Relentless lists sucrose and glucose in its Cherry drink, alongside a sweetener. Lucozade also has distinct ranges, including caffeinated Alert drinks and Zero Sugar soft drinks; the range name alone does not establish both sugar status and caffeine content.
Check the exact product’s category, ingredients, nutrition declaration and caffeine amount.
Joybuy listings for a Red Bull Sugarfree case and a Monster Ultra White case state that age verification is required on delivery. Separately, the Department of Health and Social Care described an intended ban in England in July 2026; that proposal does not establish a UK-wide rule in force.
Follow the retailer’s delivery requirements and check current official rules if age eligibility affects the purchase.
Check the named drink, not just the brand: sugar declarations and caffeine amounts can differ between products.
Red Bull Sugarfree is a 250ml no-sugar energy drink with a stated caffeine amount per can.
Monster Energy lists its 500ml Ultra drink as zero sugar, with a stated caffeine amount for the can.
Check Relentless drinks individually when shopping for a no-sugar option.
Lucozade’s product ranges need checking separately: a Zero Sugar soft drink and an Alert energy drink are not interchangeable descriptions.
These no-sugar energy-drink options include smaller Red Bull cans and larger or differently sized Monster cans for an earlier TV session. Check the caffeine shown for the exact variant, particularly if the listing does not give an amount for the whole can.
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A smaller no-sugar can to consider for an earlier TV session. Red Bull states that Sugarfree contains 80mg caffeine per 250ml can and uses sucralose and acesulfame K in place of sugars. It still contains caffeine, so avoid choosing it as a caffeine-free drink close to bed.
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A zero-sugar Monster option for someone considering an energy drink during an earlier TV session. Check the caffeine amount and volume on the exact can before comparing it with other Monster variants; avoid caffeinated drinks close to bed.
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A 500ml zero-sugar can for an earlier session if you intend to have a larger caffeinated drink. Monster Energy lists 150mg caffeine per 500ml Ultra can; check the exact pack’s label and consider the full can rather than sugar status alone.
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A 250ml zero-sugar alternative for an earlier TV session. Check caffeine for the complete Red Bull Zero can before comparing it with Red Bull Sugarfree: the two names identify different drinks. It contains sweeteners and is not a caffeine-free bedtime choice.
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A 355ml Japanese-version Monster Ultra option listed as zero sugar. Check the caffeine amount for this exact can and read its applicable labelling before choosing it for an evening session; do not apply the figure for a different 500ml Ultra variant.
No. Red Bull says a Sugarfree 250ml can contains 80mg caffeine, and Monster Energy lists 150mg in a 500ml Ultra can. Check caffeine for the whole can separately from its sugar declaration.
Check the sugar declaration, can volume, caffeine amount, ingredients and any high-caffeine warning on the exact drink. If viewing may run close to bedtime, consider timing too: NHS Borders advises avoiding energy drinks close to bed.
A non-caffeinated drink is the more suitable choice if you want to avoid caffeine close to sleep. NHS Borders advises avoiding energy drinks near bedtime because caffeine can make you feel more awake and disrupt sleep; removing sugar does not remove caffeine.
UK food-labelling guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency says drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre must carry a high-caffeine warning stating that they are not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women. Read the exact can’s warning and caffeine declaration.
No. NHS pregnancy guidance says not to have more than 200mg caffeine a day and identifies energy drinks among its sources. The daily total includes caffeine from other foods and drinks, so the sugar declaration alone cannot answer that question.