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

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

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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).