Organisers serving adult attendees
If you want a sugar-free caffeinated option, compare caffeine per can as well as the sugar information. Sugar-free does not mean caffeine-free.
Who are you catering for?
Organisers with a mixed or uncertain attendee list
Make water and caffeine-free drinks available rather than assuming every attendee wants caffeine. Keep the original can warnings visible, particularly where children, pregnant or breastfeeding attendees, or people sensitive to caffeine may be present.
Buyers choosing a serving size
Red Bull Great Britain lists 80 mg caffeine in a 250 ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy UK lists 160 mg in its 500 ml Zero Sugar example. Compare the exact cans you intend to serve, especially when coffee and tea are also available.
What should you check before ordering?
Start with the exact variant and its per-can label, then consider whether the caffeine serving and other refreshments suit the people attending.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar information | Check the exact variant name, sugars per can and serving size on the delivered label. A zero-sugar name is not a substitute for the nutrition panel. | I want to offer a sugar-free option without accidentally ordering the standard version of the drink. |
| Caffeine per can | Compare caffeine in mg per can, not just can volume. Red Bull Great Britain lists 80 mg in a 250 ml Sugarfree can; Monster Energy UK lists 160 mg in its 500 ml Zero Sugar example. | With coffee and tea on the catering table, I want attendees to be able to see how much caffeine is in each can. |
| Attendee mix | Read the high-caffeine warning on the exact product and keep caffeine-free refreshments available. Check whether children or people who may avoid caffeine will attend. | Not everyone at the event will want a caffeinated drink, so I need other choices within easy reach. |
| Label access | Check the delivered ingredients and allergen information, and retain the original packaging. The Food Standards Agency says retail and catering food businesses must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. | I want attendees to be able to read the current label rather than rely on a short menu description. |
Catering mistakes to avoid
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Assuming zero sugar means no caffeine
Red Bull Great Britain lists 80 mg caffeine in a 250 ml Sugarfree can, and Monster Energy UK lists 160 mg in its 500 ml Zero Sugar example. Their sugar claims do not describe their caffeine content.
Check caffeine per can when ordering and keep caffeine-free drinks alongside the energy drinks.
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Considering the can in isolation
Attendees may also have coffee or tea. The European Food Safety Authority considers caffeine from all dietary sources in its assessment, rather than treating each drink separately.
Keep energy drinks optional and make their per-can caffeine amount easy to see.
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Planning mixed-age service as though everyone is an adult
The Department of Health and Social Care announced a planned restriction on sales in England of energy drinks containing more than 150 mg caffeine per litre to under-16s from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval. That announcement does not establish a UK-wide rule or, by itself, settle how drinks may be supplied at an event.
If under-16s may attend, plan caffeine-free choices and check the rules and venue arrangements applicable when the event takes place.
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Relying on an old product description
The delivered can is the information attendees can inspect for its ingredients, nutrition and warnings. A product description used when ordering may not reflect a later formulation.
Check the exact delivered variant before service and leave its original label accessible.
Brand and range references
Check the named range and variant: a brand name alone does not tell you whether a drink is sugar-free or caffeine-free.
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a 250 ml sugar-free option with 80 mg caffeine per can, according to Red Bull Great Britain.
- The individual 250 ml can makes the caffeine amount straightforward to communicate.
- Tesco lists a high-caffeine warning for Red Bull Sugarfree, including advice that it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Monster Energy
Monster Energy UK lists a 500 ml Zero Sugar example containing 160 mg caffeine.
- Its larger can is a distinct format for an adult-focused, optional offering.
- Check caffeine on the exact Monster variant: the 160 mg figure belongs to the 500 ml example, not every product in the range.
Lucozade
Lucozade Alert Zero Sugar Mango Peachade is an energy drink; the separate Lucozade Zero soft-drink range should not be treated as the same product.
- Tesco lists 80 mg caffeine in a 250 ml can of Lucozade Alert Zero Sugar Mango Peachade.
- For a caffeine-free alternative, check the exact Lucozade product label rather than relying on the word ‘Zero’.
Relentless
Relentless names UK retailers for its energy drinks, but a brand reference alone does not identify a suitable zero-sugar variant.
- Check sugars, caffeine and can size on the exact variant before considering it for this catering plan.
Joybuy energy-drink options
These canned options may be considered for an optional energy-drink service. Check each exact variant’s label against your sugar and caffeine requirements; the options differ in pack and can size.
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Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink 250 ml, pack of 24
The 250 ml cans allow an individually portioned, sugar-free option for adult attendees. Red Bull Great Britain lists 80 mg caffeine per 250 ml Sugarfree can; keep caffeine-free refreshments available as well.
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Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar, pack of 12
This 12-can pack is a zero-sugar variant. Before choosing it for an adult-focused event, check this exact can’s volume, caffeine amount and warnings rather than applying figures from another Monster variant.
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CELSIUS Raspberry Peach, 12 × 355 ml
The pack contains twelve 355 ml cans. Check the exact can’s sugars, caffeine amount and warnings before including it in a zero-sugar conference offering.
Frequently asked questions
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink is caffeine-free?
No. Red Bull Great Britain lists 80 mg caffeine in a 250 ml Sugarfree can, while Monster Energy UK lists 160 mg in its 500 ml Zero Sugar example. Check the caffeine amount on the exact can, separately from its sugar information.
Should a 500 ml zero-sugar can be offered to every attendee?
No. Monster Energy UK lists 160 mg caffeine in its 500 ml Zero Sugar example. Keep energy drinks optional, consider coffee and tea served during the event, and provide caffeine-free alternatives.
What if under-16s may attend the conference?
Provide refreshments that do not depend on high-caffeine energy drinks. The Department of Health and Social Care announced a planned England ban on sales to under-16s of energy drinks containing more than 150 mg caffeine per litre from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval. Check the law and venue arrangements applicable at the time and place of your event; that announcement does not establish a UK-wide rule.
What alternatives should be available for pregnant or breastfeeding attendees?
Make clearly caffeine-free drinks available. The NHS advises pregnant people not to exceed 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources, while the high-caffeine warnings on the cited Red Bull and Monster products say they are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Do canned drinks need allergen information at a catered event?
The Food Standards Agency says food businesses in retail and catering must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. Keep the delivered cans’ original labels accessible so attendees can inspect the current ingredients and other product information.