Sugar Amounts in Soda, Energy Drinks, Coffee, and Tea Beverages

How much sugar is in your favorite soda or energy drink?

Which popular soda has the most sugar?

1. 12 oz can of Mtn Dew – 46 grams
2. 12 oz can of Pepsi – 41 grams
3. 12 oz can of Coca-Cola – 39 grams

How many grams of sugar are in a 12 oz can of soda?

Typically between 35 – 45 grams of sugar.

Why is so much sugar placed in drinks?

• Caffeine is bitter. Most people address this by adding sugar to caffeinated beverages.
• Straight coffee (no milk, no sugar) is zero-calorie and sugar-free, but bitter, so it is sweetened to improve flavor.

Many energy drinks also contain a lot of sugar – particularly those that are juice / soda combinations.

• Energy drinks contain lots of sugar, particularly those that are juice/soda combinations.
• Some of the most popular 16 fl oz energy drinks contain around 40-55 grams of sugar. This is about 8-11 teaspoons of sugar.

Zero sugar sodas are getting more popular

Almost all beverage manufacturers produce zero-sugar versions of their drinks.

Often, the product will be sweetened with an artificial sweetener (such as aspartame, Splenda, acesulfame potassium, or stevia).