Hosts avoiding sugar
If you want an energy drink without sugar, read the sugars line as well as the caffeine declaration. Zero-sugar cans can still differ considerably in size and caffeine per can.
Who is shopping for game night?
Players watching their caffeine intake
A smaller can makes the amount in one serving easier to see. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine in a 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster lists 160mg in a 500ml Absolutely Zero can. Neither figure accounts for caffeine from other drinks or foods.
Hosts serving guests with different preferences
Not everyone will want a caffeinated drink. Keep non-caffeinated choices available, and check the warnings on any energy drinks you plan to serve.
What should you check before choosing?
For a board game night, check sugar and caffeine separately, then choose a can and pack size that suit the people you are serving.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Read the sugars figure on the nutrition panel. Check ingredients too: Relentless lists both sucrose and sucralose in its White Citrus and Guava variants. | I want a drink with no sugar, rather than one that simply contains a sweetener. |
| Caffeine per can | Use the can size and caffeine declaration to work out the whole-can amount. Red Bull lists 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster lists 160mg per 500ml Absolutely Zero can, while Tesco Groceries lists 30mg per 100ml for its 500ml Kx Sugar Free can, equivalent to 150mg per can. | For a later game, I would rather know the amount in one complete can than compare labels on a per-100ml basis alone. |
| Other drinks | Account for caffeine from coffee, tea and other sources as well as energy drinks. Check the can’s warnings and have a non-caffeinated option available. | Guests may arrive having already had caffeine, or may prefer to avoid it altogether. |
| Pack and availability | Confirm the number of cans, their size, current stock and the physical labels before buying for a group. | I need enough suitable drinks for the table without assuming every guest wants the same can. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming sweeteners mean no sugar or less caffeine
A drink can contain both sugar and sweetener: Relentless lists sucrose and sucralose in its White Citrus and Guava variants. Zero-sugar drinks can also contain substantial caffeine per can.
Check the sugars figure and the caffeine amount for the complete can, not just words on the front or a per-100ml figure.
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Choosing a multipack before considering each serving
A second can adds to caffeine consumed earlier in the day. The European Food Safety Authority’s caffeine assessment considers intake from all dietary sources, not energy drinks alone.
Check the caffeine per can before deciding how many caffeinated drinks to provide, and include non-caffeinated choices.
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Relying on an online listing for game-night supplies
Stock and product information can change. A listed option may not be obtainable when you shop, and the can you receive is the label guests will actually see.
Confirm availability, pack size, the physical label and the date marking before serving.
Which product lines are relevant?
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a smaller-can option for shoppers avoiding sugar.
- Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains no sugar and 80mg caffeine.
- Sugarfree still contains caffeine; check whether that serving suits the guest and what else they may drink.
Monster Energy
Monster Energy Absolutely Zero is a 500ml zero-sugar example for comparing larger cans.
- Monster Energy lists 0g sugar and 160mg caffeine per 500ml Absolutely Zero can.
- Its 160mg whole-can amount is twice the 80mg that Red Bull lists for a 250ml Sugarfree can; these figures apply to the named variants.
Tesco Kx
Tesco Kx Sugar Free is a supermarket-listed 500ml option to compare by its label.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars per 500ml can and 30mg caffeine per 100ml, equivalent to 150mg per can.
- Check current availability and the can’s label before relying on it for a group.
Relentless
Its White Citrus and Guava variants illustrate why “with sweetener” does not necessarily mean zero sugar.
- Relentless lists both sucrose and sucralose among the ingredients for those two flavours.
- Neither named variant meets a strict no-sugar requirement; check the specific flavour rather than assuming the same formulation across the range.
Joybuy zero-sugar options
These Joybuy options are packs of Red Bull Sugarfree and Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar for a board game night. Check each can’s label and the pack details before choosing for guests.
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Red Bull Sugarfree 250ml 24-pack
The 24-pack offers individual 250ml cans for a group. Red Bull states that each Sugarfree can contains no sugar and 80mg caffeine; account for other caffeinated drinks guests may have had.
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Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar 12 cans
This 12-can zero-sugar pack is another option for serving a group. Check the current can size, caffeine per can and warnings on this Green Zero Sugar variant before planning servings.
Common questions
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink contains less caffeine?
No. Sugar and caffeine are separate things to check. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine in a 250ml Sugarfree can, Tesco Groceries lists the equivalent of 150mg in a 500ml Kx Sugar Free can, and Monster Energy lists 160mg in a 500ml Absolutely Zero can. Compare the whole-can figure for the variant you intend to buy.
Should caffeine from other drinks count on game night?
Yes. The European Food Safety Authority considers caffeine from all dietary sources in its assessment. For healthy, non-pregnant adults, it states that single doses up to 200mg and daily intakes up to 400mg from all sources do not raise safety concerns; these are reference values, not amounts to aim for.
Does a sugar-free energy drink remove pregnancy or breastfeeding cautions?
No. Removing sugar does not remove caffeine or the product’s warnings. The European Food Safety Authority gives a 200mg daily caffeine reference from all sources during pregnancy, while the Tesco Kx listing warns that its drink is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Check the particular can’s label and seek individual clinical advice if needed.
What should I check on a high-caffeine drink label?
Check the caffeine figure in mg per 100ml, the can size and any warnings, then work out the amount in the whole can. For example, Tesco Groceries lists Kx Sugar Free at 30mg per 100ml in a 500ml can, which is 150mg per can. Read the physical label in case product details have changed.