Quick answer: turn the can round and check four things: caffeine per can, sugar per 100ml and per can, what it is sweetened with, and the warnings. It takes about 30 seconds and tells you far more than the front of the can.
1. Caffeine: check the can, not just the 100ml
Labels show caffeine per 100ml. Multiply by the can size to get the real dose. A 500ml can at 32mg per 100ml is 160mg, more than most coffees.
| Caffeine per can | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 100mg | A light lift, about a mug of instant coffee |
| 100 to 150mg | A moderate dose, enough for a long session |
| Over 150mg | A strong dose; easy to overdo with coffee on top |
Any drink over 150mg of caffeine per litre must say "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women." That is a legal warning, not a marketing line.
2. Sugar: per 100ml and per can
UK labels use traffic lights for drinks:
| Colour | Sugar per 100ml |
|---|---|
| Green (low) | 2.5g or less |
| Amber (medium) | 2.5g to 11.25g |
| Red (high) | Over 11.25g, or over 13.5g in one serving |
That last rule matters. A drink can look amber per 100ml and still be red per can. Also, "no added sugar" is not the same as "sugar free": drinks with fruit juice still contain natural sugars, so always check the number.
3. Sweeteners: know the names
| On the label | What it is |
|---|---|
| Steviol glycosides (stevia) | From the stevia leaf |
| Sucralose | Artificial |
| Aspartame | Artificial |
| Acesulfame K | Artificial, often paired with sucralose |
All are approved in the UK. Which you prefer is mostly about taste and how natural you want your drink to be.
4. The rest of the list
- Taurine: common in big brands. Your body makes its own.
- Vitamins at 500% or more: looks impressive, but more is not better. Your body uses what it needs.
- Colours and preservatives: look for E-numbers if you want to avoid them.
- Named actives: a good label tells you what each one is, not just a "proprietary blend".
A real label, side by side
| Typical 500ml energy drink | PÜRCHARGE 330ml | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per can | 160mg | 125mg, from green coffee |
| Sugar per can | Around 55g in full-sugar versions | From 3.8g |
| Sweetened with | Sugar, or sucralose and acesulfame K | Stevia leaf and a little fruit juice |
| Fizz | Carbonated | Still |
Figures from UK retailer listings; recipes change, so check the can.
Your 30-second checklist
- Caffeine per can, not per 100ml
- Sugar green per 100ml, and not red per can
- A sweetener you are happy with
- Actives named, not hidden in a "blend"
Where PÜRCHARGE fits
We wrote our label to pass this checklist. Each still 330ml can has 125mg of caffeine from green coffee, green tea extract (a natural source of L-theanine), enXtra®, rhodiola, Panax ginseng, electrolytes and nine vitamins, sweetened with stevia. Caffeine contributes to increased alertness and improved concentration. Not for under-16s, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Max two cans a day.
FAQs
How much caffeine is too much?
For healthy adults, up to 400mg a day from all sources, including coffee and tea.
Is low sugar the same as sugar free?
No. Low sugar means 2.5g or less per 100ml. Sugar free means 0.5g or less per 100ml.
Why do energy drinks contain so many vitamins?
B vitamins play a part in energy-yielding metabolism, so brands add them. Very high amounts are not more effective; your body uses what it needs.
