Adults avoiding sugar in drinks
Compare the sugar declaration, sweeteners and caffeine on the particular can you intend to buy. Zero-sugar varieties can still contain caffeine.
Who is this choice for?
Households choosing between can sizes
A 250ml can and a 500ml can make different individual servings. Compare caffeine per full can before deciding which pack format suits the adults who will drink it.
Households with children or someone who is pregnant
Consider who can access the drinks at home. UK government labelling guidance requires a warning against consumption by children and pregnant or breastfeeding women on drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre.
What should you compare?
Start with the intended drinker, then read the sugar and caffeine information for the exact can and check how many cans the household pack contains.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and ingredients | Read sugars per 100ml and the ingredient list for the exact variety. Red Bull says Sugarfree replaces sugars with sweeteners; Lucozade says its regular Energy range contains glucose. | I’m choosing a drink for an adult who wants to avoid sugar, so I need to distinguish a zero-sugar variety from a regular one. |
| Caffeine per can | Compare the whole-can amount, not just the can volume or sugar claim. Red Bull states 80mg in a 250ml Sugarfree can; Monster states 150mg in its cited 500ml Ultra can. Check other variants separately. | A smaller can may suit the serving I intend to buy. I still want to know how much caffeine is in that entire can. |
| Multipack format | Check can count, volume per can and total pack volume. Eight 250ml cans and four 500ml cans each contain 2 litres, but divide that quantity into different servings. | For a large shop, I want enough cans for the intended adults without assuming that a larger individual can suits everyone. |
| Household access | Read any high-caffeine warning and consider where a multipack will be kept. UK government guidance requires a warning on drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre. | Children may be able to reach drinks bought for adults. If someone is pregnant, I also need to account for caffeine from other foods and drinks under NHS guidance. |
What can be easy to overlook?
Reading zero sugar as zero caffeine
Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine, while Monster states that its cited 500ml Ultra can contains 150mg.
Read the caffeine amount for the full can alongside the sugar declaration, particularly when switching size or variety.
Comparing pack volume without individual servings
A pack of eight 250ml cans and one of four 500ml cans both contain 2 litres, but the individual cans are not the same size.
Check the number of cans, volume per can and caffeine declaration for the exact product before choosing a household pack.
Leaving adult drinks within children’s reach
A zero-sugar claim does not remove a drink’s caffeine. UK government guidance requires a warning against consumption by children on drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre.
Read the warning on the chosen pack and consider where drinks intended for adults will be stored.
Assuming every drink in a range has the same formulation
Lucozade describes its regular Energy range as containing glucose and its Alert range as high in caffeine. A brand name alone does not identify the contents of a particular pack.
Check the exact variety’s nutrition panel, ingredients, can size and caffeine declaration.
Relevant brand ranges
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a 250ml option for adults comparing smaller zero-sugar cans.
- Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine and replaces sugars with sucralose and acesulfame K.
- Sugarfree is not caffeine-free; check the ingredients of the exact pack, as formulations may differ.
Monster Energy
Monster’s cited Ultra product is a 500ml zero-sugar can.
- Monster states 0g sugar and 150mg caffeine for the 500ml Ultra can on its UK product page.
- Check the caffeine figure on the exact Ultra variant: the stated figure for one product must not be applied to every can in the range.
Lucozade
Lucozade has distinct Energy and Alert ranges, so choose by the specific drink rather than the brand name.
- Lucozade describes its regular Energy range as containing glucose.
- Lucozade describes Alert as a high-caffeine drink; check the chosen pack for its sugar and caffeine amounts.
Zero-sugar drinks on Joybuy
These multipacks offer different can sizes and pack counts for a household buying drinks intended for adults. Check the exact variety’s caffeine and ingredients before choosing.
Image unavailableCELSIUS Kiwi Guava 12 × 355ml
The 12-can pack offers 355ml servings for a household shop. Check the sugar, caffeine and ingredients on this flavour’s pack for the intended adult drinker.
Image unavailableRed Bull Sugarfree 24 × 250ml
This pack divides the drink into 250ml cans. Red Bull states that a 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine; check the ingredients and keep the caffeine in mind when buying for a household.
Image unavailableMonster Ultra White 12 × 500ml
The 12-pack contains larger 500ml cans. Check the caffeine declaration for Ultra White itself rather than applying a figure from another Monster Ultra variety.
Image unavailableMonster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 6 × 4 × 500ml
This case groups 500ml cans into six four-packs. For a household stock-up, check the caffeine amount for a full can and who will have access to the case.
Image unavailableRed Bull Zero 4 × 250ml
This four-pack offers 250ml cans without committing to a larger case. Read its own sugar, sweetener and full-can caffeine information rather than assuming it matches Red Bull Sugarfree.
Common questions
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink has no caffeine?
No. Red Bull states that its 250ml Sugarfree can contains 80mg caffeine, while Monster states that its cited 500ml Ultra can contains 150mg despite having 0g sugar. Read the caffeine declaration for the exact variety and whole can.
Does sugar-free make an energy drink suitable during pregnancy?
Sugar-free does not remove caffeine. NHS pregnancy guidance says not to have more than 200mg caffeine a day and identifies energy drinks among its sources; caffeine from other foods and drinks counts towards that total.
Why check individual cans when buying a multipack?
Can count and total volume do not tell you the caffeine amount in one drink. Check the exact can’s caffeine declaration, ingredients and size; UK government guidance also requires a high-caffeine warning on drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre.