Adults avoiding sugar in their drink
If you want an energy drink without adding sugar to brunch, check both the sugar statement and caffeine in the full can. A zero-sugar label does not tell you how much caffeine the serving contains.
Who is choosing a brunch drink?
Guests also having coffee or tea
An energy drink is another source of caffeine on a day that may already include coffee or tea. Compare whole-can amounts before deciding which serving fits your plans.
People who want a fizzy soft drink instead
If caffeine is not the reason for your choice, look at the specific drink range. Lucozade presents Zero as a zero-sugar soft drink and Alert as a separate caffeinated range.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the kind of drink you want, then compare the sugar statement, caffeine per whole container and pack size.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Read the sugar information for the specific drink and serving. Do not use “zero sugar” as a guide to caffeine content. | I want a drink that does not add sugar to brunch, but I still need to choose whether I want an energy drink. |
| Whole-can caffeine | Red Bull lists 80mg per 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster lists 150mg per 500ml Ultra can and 160mg per 500ml Zero Sugar can. Count other caffeine sources too. | If coffee or tea is part of brunch, I want to know what the entire can adds to my day. |
| Serving and pack size | Check both the can volume and the number of cans in the pack. A multipack does not change the caffeine amount in each can. | A smaller drink may fit the occasion better, or I may specifically want a 500ml can; I also need a pack size I will use. |
| Drink range | Check the exact range name and its caffeine statement. Lucozade describes Zero as a zero-sugar soft drink and Alert as a caffeinated drink. | Perhaps I want a fizzy drink with brunch, not the caffeine associated with an energy drink. |
| Suitability warnings | Read the product-specific warning and consider caffeine from all food and drink. The NHS advises a limit of 200mg caffeine a day during pregnancy. | If pregnancy or caffeine sensitivity affects my choice, a zero-sugar label alone does not settle whether the drink is appropriate. |
What is easy to overlook?
-
Assuming zero sugar means little caffeine
Monster lists 150mg caffeine in a 500ml Ultra can and 160mg in a 500ml Zero Sugar can. Removing sugar from the choice does not remove its caffeine contribution.
Compare caffeine per whole can, then include any coffee or tea you expect to have that day.
-
Choosing the largest can without considering the serving
A 500ml can is twice the volume of a 250ml can, but the relevant brunch decision is also how much caffeine you intend to drink.
Choose a can size and caffeine amount together; check the number of cans if you are buying a multipack.
-
Treating a brand name as a caffeine guide
Lucozade presents Zero and Alert as different ranges: one is a zero-sugar soft drink, while the other is described as caffeinated.
Read the exact range name and individual pack label rather than assuming similarly branded drinks serve the same purpose.
How do the drink ranges differ?
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a smaller-can option for someone choosing a sugar-free energy drink.
- Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine in each 250ml Sugarfree can.
- Its caffeine still counts alongside coffee, tea and other sources.
Monster
Monster lists larger zero-sugar cans with different whole-can caffeine amounts.
- Monster lists 150mg caffeine in a 500ml Ultra can and 160mg in a 500ml Zero Sugar can.
- Check the exact variant and can label rather than applying one figure to every Monster drink.
Lucozade
Lucozade separates its Zero soft-drink range from its caffeinated Alert range.
- Lucozade describes Zero as containing zero sugar and zero calories.
- Do not assume Zero and Alert have the same caffeine purpose; check the individual drink.
Relentless
Relentless Guava illustrates why product-specific caffeine warnings matter.
- Relentless says its Guava drink is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or women who are nursing.
Zero-sugar energy drinks on Joybuy
These options cover a smaller Red Bull Sugarfree can and larger Monster zero-sugar packs for adults comparing energy drinks for brunch. Check the exact can label when pack or variant details affect your choice.
Image unavailable
Red Bull Sugarfree 250ml, 4-pack
Consider this smaller can if you want a sugar-free energy drink alongside brunch coffee or tea. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine per 250ml can; include it in your daily total.
Image unavailable
Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar, 6×4×500ml
This larger-can option suits someone who wants a zero-sugar energy drink and will use a 24-can case. Monster lists 150mg caffeine per 500ml Ultra can, so account for other caffeinated drinks too.
Image unavailable
Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar, 12 cans
This zero-sugar Green variant comes in a 12-can pack. Before choosing it for brunch, check the individual can for its volume, caffeine amount and any usage warnings; do not apply figures from a different Monster variant.
Questions about sugar and caffeine
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink is low in caffeine?
No. Monster lists 150mg caffeine in a 500ml Ultra can and 160mg in a 500ml Zero Sugar can, despite their zero-sugar descriptions. Check caffeine in the whole can separately from its sugar information.
Which can is easier to account for alongside brunch coffee?
If you want the smaller caffeine contribution among these cited drinks, Red Bull lists 80mg in a 250ml Sugarfree can, compared with Monster's 150mg per 500ml Ultra can and 160mg per 500ml Zero Sugar can. Include caffeine from coffee, tea and other sources in your daily total.
What should I check during pregnancy?
The NHS advises no more than 200mg caffeine a day during pregnancy, counting all food and drink. Check caffeine in the full can alongside other sources, and seek individual advice from a qualified clinician if needed.
Is there a UK-wide ban on sales of energy drinks to under-16s?
Do not treat the announced England restriction as a current UK-wide rule. The Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education announced an England ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval; check the applicable rule and retailer policy for the place and time of purchase.
Is Lucozade Zero the same kind of drink as Lucozade Alert?
No. Lucozade describes Zero as a zero-sugar, zero-calorie soft-drink range and Alert as a caffeinated range. Choose the specific product according to whether you want a soft drink or caffeine, and check its label.