For festival camping, choose a caffeine-free, zero-sugar cola if both sugar and caffeine matter to your group; a standard zero-sugar cola if caffeine is acceptable; or an original sweetened cola if that is the flavour your group wants. Check the exact variant and serving size before buying a multipack, and take water separately: the NHS recommends water for replacing fluids lost through sweating during physical activity.
Compare the nutrition panels of original and zero-sugar cola rather than assuming every variant has the same sugar content. The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Original Taste; the referenced Coca-Cola Zero Sugar multipack lists 0g per 100ml.
Look for a variant explicitly labelled caffeine free, not just zero sugar. PepsiCo UK lists caffeine in standard Pepsi Max, while its Pepsi Max Caffeine Free is a separate variant.
A multipack of sealed cans gives the group individual servings. Check the pack’s storage instructions and date, and plan water separately for warm or active days, in line with NHS hydration guidance.
Decide which sugar and caffeine combination suits the group, then check the exact can size and how you will store drinks alongside food.
Choose when: The group wants cola without either sugar or caffeine, including for evening meals.
Check: The referenced variants contain sweeteners; read pack warnings, including phenylalanine information where relevant.
Choose when: Avoiding sugar matters but caffeine is acceptable.
Bear in mind: The referenced standard Pepsi Max and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar variants contain caffeine, unlike separately labelled caffeine-free versions.
Choose when: The group specifically prefers a conventional sweetened recipe.
Bear in mind: The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Original Taste, and its ingredients include caffeine flavouring.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Read sugars per 100ml and per serving on the exact variant. Check the can size before comparing servings. | I want to know whether I am packing sweetened or zero-sugar cola. The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Original Taste, while PepsiCo UK lists 0g per 100ml for Pepsi Max. |
| Caffeine | Look for explicit caffeine-free wording and check the ingredients; zero sugar alone does not establish caffeine content. | For an evening cola, I may want a caffeine-free variant rather than the standard zero-sugar version. |
| Pack and storage | Check the number and size of cans, storage instructions and best-before date. Keep chilled high-risk food under separate temperature control. | We need enough individual drinks for the group without treating drink storage as a way to keep food safe. The Food Standards Agency advises storing chilled food below 5°C and warns that a cool box may not keep it chilled for an extended period. |
| Water | Plan a separate water supply for active days; do not count a cola multipack as the whole drinks plan. | If we are active and sweating, I want water available. The NHS recommends water for replacing fluids lost through physical activity. |
Standard Pepsi Max and the referenced Coca-Cola Zero Sugar multipack contain caffeine, even though they list 0g sugars per 100ml.
If caffeine matters to your group, choose a variant explicitly labelled caffeine free and check the ingredients on the pack.
Joybuy lists 35g sugars in a 330ml can of Coca-Cola Original Taste. A per-100ml figure alone does not tell you the amount in the can you plan to pack.
Compare both per-100ml and per-serving nutrition information for the exact variants and sizes under consideration.
Putting cola in a cool box does not establish that high-risk food will stay cold. The Food Standards Agency warns that a cool box may not keep food chilled for an extended period.
Plan to keep chilled high-risk food below 5°C and separate ready-to-eat food from raw food; organise drinks separately where practical.
The referenced Pepsi Max variants and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine Free carry phenylalanine information relevant to some group members.
Read the actual pack’s ingredients and warnings when choosing drinks for someone with a relevant dietary requirement.
Its UK information distinguishes Original Taste from Zero Sugar and Zero Sugar Caffeine Free.
PepsiCo UK provides separate information for Pepsi Max and Pepsi Max Caffeine Free.
Tesco Groceries lists own-label Xero Cola and Diet Cola alongside branded zero-sugar multipacks on its UK cola shelf.
These 24-can multipacks cover caffeine-free, standard zero-sugar and original sweetened cola choices for group meals at camp. Compare the exact labels before settling on a variant.
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A caffeine-free named option for group servings at camp. The pack contains 24 cans of 330ml; check the nutrition panel and ingredients on the pack for any other requirements.
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For a group choosing a caffeine-free, zero-sugar cola, this pack contains 24 cans of 330ml. The Joybuy listing states 0g sugars per 100ml; check the pack’s sweetener and phenylalanine information where relevant.
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A standard zero-sugar choice for groups where caffeine is acceptable. This is a 24-pack of 330ml cans; PepsiCo UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Pepsi Max, whose ingredients include caffeine and sweeteners.
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For a group that wants the original sweetened recipe, this pack contains 24 cans of 330ml. Joybuy lists 35g sugars per can, and The Coca-Cola Company lists caffeine flavouring among the ingredients.
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A standard zero-sugar option when caffeine is acceptable, supplied as 24 cans of 330ml. The Joybuy listing gives 0g sugars per 100ml and includes caffeine in the ingredients; check its sweetener information on the pack.
Pack original cola if the group specifically wants a sweetened recipe; choose a zero-sugar variant if avoiding sugar is the priority. The Coca-Cola Company lists 10.6g sugars per 100ml for Original Taste, while PepsiCo UK lists 0g per 100ml for Pepsi Max. Check the exact pack because variants differ.
No. Standard Pepsi Max and the referenced Coca-Cola Zero Sugar multipack contain caffeine. If you want to avoid it, look for an explicitly caffeine-free variant and check the ingredients.
Follow the cola pack’s storage instructions and check its best-before date. Plan chilled-food storage separately: the Food Standards Agency advises keeping chilled high-risk food below 5°C and warns that a cool box may not maintain that temperature for an extended trip.
Take water separately. The NHS recommends water for replacing fluids lost through sweating during physical activity; cola can be an additional drink with food rather than the whole drinks plan.