Does Pepsi Max have caffeine?
Del
Yes. Pepsi Max contains caffeine: UK retailer listings show "Flavourings (Including Caffeine)" in its ingredients. Regular Pepsi and Pepsi Max Cherry contain caffeine too. If you want none, there is a caffeine-free version called Pepsi Max No Caffeine No Sugar. PepsiCo does not state the amount of caffeine on the UK pack. For context, Coca-Cola Great Britain gives 34 mg for a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola, and the NHS uses about 40 mg for a can of cola.
Key points
• Pepsi Max, regular Pepsi and Pepsi Max Cherry all list caffeine in their ingredients.
• Pepsi Max No Caffeine No Sugar is the caffeine-free version.
• PepsiCo does not state the milligrams of caffeine on the UK pack.
• For context: a can of cola has about 40 mg of caffeine (NHS); Coca-Cola is 34 mg per 330 ml can (Coca-Cola GB).
• A mug of instant coffee has about 100 mg (NHS).
Table of contents
- Does Pepsi Max have caffeine?
- Which Pepsi drinks contain caffeine?
- How much caffeine is in Pepsi Max?
- Pepsi Max No Caffeine
- Pepsi Max vs coffee, tea and energy drinks
- FAQ
Does Pepsi Max have caffeine?
Yes. The ingredients of Pepsi Max No Sugar in the UK include "Flavourings (Including Caffeine)" (Tesco listing). "Max" and "No Sugar" are about sugar, not caffeine. For all the cola figures in one place, see our main guide: How much caffeine is in cola? and our guide to Does Coke Zero have caffeine? More: Caffeine pouches vs energy drinks · Caffeine pouches in the UK
Which Pepsi drinks contain caffeine?
| Drink | Caffeine? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pepsi Max No Sugar | Yes (in ingredients) | Tesco |
| Pepsi Regular | Yes (in ingredients) | Tesco |
| Pepsi Max Cherry | Yes (in ingredients) | Morrisons |
| Pepsi Max No Caffeine No Sugar | No, caffeine-free | Tesco; Morrisons |
Sources: UK retailer product listings, checked October 2026. Recipes can change, so check the ingredients on the can or bottle you buy.
Pepsi Max Cherry is not caffeine-free: like regular Pepsi Max, it lists caffeine among its flavourings.
How much caffeine is in Pepsi Max?
PepsiCo does not state the amount of caffeine on the UK pack, and the Tesco and Morrisons listings we checked give no milligram figure. In the UK, only drinks with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre have to carry a "High caffeine content" warning with the amount per 100 ml, and most colas are below that level.
For context, here are the official cola figures we do have:
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola | 330 ml can | 34 mg | Coca-Cola GB |
| Diet Coke | 1 can | 46 mg | Coca-Cola GB |
| Cola (general) | 1 can | about 40 mg | NHS |
| Cola (general) | 355 ml | about 37 mg | EUFIC |
Sources: Coca-Cola Great Britain, "What is caffeine?" FAQ page (checked October 2026); NHS; EUFIC. These are not Pepsi figures.
Pepsi Max No Caffeine
If you want the taste without the caffeine, look for Pepsi Max No Caffeine No Sugar. Tesco lists it in 330 ml cans marked "No caffeine", and Morrisons describes the 500 ml bottle as a caffeine-free cola with sweeteners. Check the name on the label: a plain "Pepsi Max" or "Pepsi Max Cherry" does contain caffeine.
Pepsi Max vs coffee, tea and energy drinks
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Cola | 1 can | about 40 mg |
| Tea | 1 mug | about 75 mg |
| Energy drink | 250 ml | about 80 mg |
| Instant coffee | 1 mug | about 100 mg |
| Filter coffee | 1 mug | about 140 mg |
Source: NHS.
Using the NHS figure, a can of cola has less than half the caffeine of a mug of instant coffee. Every can still counts towards your daily total: for healthy adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day is unlikely to cause adverse effects, and the limit in pregnancy is 200 mg a day (FSA and FSS, 2024). More: How much caffeine is too much? · Which fizzy drinks have caffeine?
Optimal Native caffeine pouches state the caffeine per pouch on the label: Morning Energy 200 mg, Daily Flow 75 mg and Evening Relax 0 mg, with no sugar.
FAQ
Is Pepsi Max caffeine-free?
No. Regular Pepsi Max lists caffeine in its ingredients. Pepsi Max No Caffeine No Sugar is the caffeine-free version.
Does regular Pepsi have caffeine?
Yes. Pepsi Regular lists "Flavourings (Including Caffeine)" in its ingredients.
Does Pepsi Max Cherry have caffeine?
Yes. Pepsi Max Cherry lists caffeine among its flavourings.
How much caffeine is in a can of Pepsi Max?
PepsiCo does not state it on the UK pack. For comparison, a can of cola has about 40 mg (NHS) and a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola has 34 mg (Coca-Cola GB).
Read next: How much caffeine is in cola? · Does Coke Zero have caffeine? · Which fizzy drinks have caffeine?
Optimal Native is coming to the UK. One stack for the whole day: Morning Energy, Daily Flow and Evening Relax. Pre-orders ship from 15 December 2026.