Energy drinks with the least caffeine: how to read UK labels
AggiornatoThe energy drinks with the least caffeine are the caffeine-free versions and the smallest cans. A 250 ml energy drink contains about 80 mg of caffeine, while a 300–500 ml can contains about 160–200 mg. The quickest way to compare is the label: drinks above 150 mg of caffeine per litre must say "High caffeine content" and show the caffeine per 100 ml.
Key points
• Can size makes the biggest difference: a 500 ml can can have more than twice the caffeine of a 250 ml can.
• Drinks other than tea or coffee with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre carry a "High caffeine content" warning.
• Caffeine-free and sugar-free versions exist; check the label.
• Adults: up to 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources (FSA and Food Standards Scotland).
Table of contents
- Caffeine per can by size
- How to read the label
- Options with the least caffeine
- How caffeine pouches compare
- FAQ
Caffeine per can by size
| Drink | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Caffeine-free energy drink | 0 mg |
| Cola (355 ml can) | about 37 mg |
| Energy drink (250 ml) | about 80 mg |
| Energy drink (300–500 ml) | about 160–200 mg |
Work out your own total: caffeine calculator.
Sources: GOV.UK, Department of Health and Social Care; EUFIC (cola).
How to read the label
- Find the caffeine per 100 ml. Drinks with the "High caffeine content" warning must show it next to the warning, and many other drinks show it too.
- Multiply by the can size. For example, 32 mg per 100 ml in a 500 ml can is 160 mg for the whole can.
- Look for the warning. Drinks other than tea or coffee with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre (15 mg per 100 ml) must say: "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women."
Options with the least caffeine
- Caffeine-free versions: some energy drinks come in a caffeine-free version. Check that the label says caffeine-free.
- Smaller cans: a 250 ml can has about half the caffeine of a 500 ml can of the same drink.
- Drinks without the "High caffeine content" warning: they contain 150 mg of caffeine per litre or less.
- Sugar: lower caffeine does not mean lower sugar. A sugary energy drink can contain up to 20 teaspoons of sugar per can (Action on Sugar, 2015).
How caffeine pouches compare
A caffeine pouch is not a drink. Optimal Native pouches state the caffeine per pouch and contain no sugar:
- Daily Flow: 75 mg, a little less than a 250 ml energy drink
- Morning Energy: 200 mg, similar to a 500 ml energy drink
- Evening Relax: 0 mg (caffeine-free)
Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily dose. Optimal Native sells only to adults aged 18 and over. See also Caffeine pouches vs energy drinks.
FAQ
Which energy drinks have the least caffeine?
Caffeine-free versions, then small cans and drinks without the "High caffeine content" warning. Compare the caffeine per 100 ml on the label.
How much caffeine is in a 500 ml energy drink?
About 160–200 mg, according to GOV.UK.
What does "High caffeine content" mean on a label?
The drink contains more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre. It must also say it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Can under-16s buy energy drinks?
Many UK retailers have not sold high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s since 2018, and England plans to make this law from April 2027. See Energy drinks and under-16s: the new UK rules.
Read more: Caffeine pouches in the UK · How much caffeine is too much? · Does Lucozade 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.