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The 10 Most Caffeinated Diet Drinks
Did you know that diet sodas have more caffeine than regular soda?
Diet Coke has 46.5mg caffeine compared to regular Coke that has 34.5mg. That’s a thirty per-cent increase!
Here are the 10 most caffeinated diet soft drinks – and they are nowhere near the levels of caffeine in Starbucks drinks.
Diet Pepsi Max
Per 12oz can : 69mg caffeine
A can of regular Pepsi-cola contains 38mg caffeine.
Diet Sundrop
Per 12oz can: 69mg caffeine
Sun Drop is a brand of citrus soda drink from Cadbury-Schweppes. The level of caffeine in the Diet version came as a complete surprise – but then – even the regular version has 63mg in a 12oz can. Note: regular can displayed.
Diet Mountain Dew
Per 12oz can: 55mg caffeine
Mountain Dew is one of the most popular citrus soft drinks. Both diet and regular have the same amount of caffeine. In countries outside the USA – Mountain Dew has either reduced amounts of caffeine (or no caffeine at all).
Pepsi ONE
Per 12oz can: 54mg caffeine
Pepsi ONE is a very similar formulation to Diet Coke with Splenda – although Pepsi ONE contains significantly more caffeine.
Diet Cheerwine
Per 12oz can: 48.1mg caffeine
Diet RC Cola
Per 12oz can: 47.3mg caffeine
Royal Crown (RC) colas have been around for a long time and are currently owned by Cadbury Schweppes. As in the case of Diet Coke – here the diet version has more caffeine than the regular RC Cola. 2
TaB
Per 12oz can: 46.5mg caffeine
TaB (from Coca-cola) is one of the oldest diet or sugar-free soft drinks around. It has more caffeine than Diet Coke
Diet Coke
Per 12oz can: 46.5mg caffeine
Diet Coke has significantly more caffeine in it than regular coke (34.5mg).
Diet Sunkist Orange Soda
Per 12oz can: 41.5mg caffeine
Contains slightly more than the regular version of Sunkist. Who would have thought that Orange Soda was caffeinated?
Diet Dr Pepper
Per 12oz can: 41mg caffeine
Contains the same amount as regular Dr Pepper.
How Much Caffeine in Instant Coffee?
According the USDA – 1 rounded teaspoon of instant coffee powder contains 57mg of caffeine. (source).
What about Diet Coke Plus?
The vitamin-filled Diet Coke Plus contains the same amount of caffeine as Diet Coke.
Diet Pepsi?
Didn’t even make it to this list. Diet Pepsi has 36mg caffeine in a 12oz can.
Sources: The CaffeineInformer caffeine database and caffeine in citrus soda, along with PepsiCo, Coca-cola, Sundrop.
I’m gonna go back to Dt. Dr. Pepper. It has the last of the caffeine. Other than my one cup of coffee in the morning.
160z mountain dew cans have 79mg of caffeine in it. Not bad
Ski Soda, from the Double Cola Company, is pretty obscure, but it has a lot of caffeine; 69mg/12 fl oz.
Sorry Lilu..read the can….says right on it, 54mg in diet dew
Smh @ everyone. Read the Label!!!!
Do YOUR own research.
DIET MOUNTAIN DEW HAS 76 MG OF CAFFEINE
The funniest thing is that the company told me that the caffeine in diet orange Sunkist soda is naturally occurring in their ingredients. Did anyone ever hear of caffeine in oranges?
That gave me a good laugh. How ridiculous.
They say what they think you want to hear, or treat us all like we’re stupid
Ha! You really think there is real orange in that can????
I drink 14 + diet Mt. Dews daily for over 7 yrs. What are the short term and long term health effects of this.
A big factor would be the excess sugar and I’m sure you know the risks of this. As for caffeine the risks would be found here: http://www.caffeineinformer.com/harmful-effects-of-caffeine You really should consider cutting back.
Is caffeine contain in Appy
You keep the information about the caffiene in your orange soda well hidden in very small print on your containers. I would have never known had someone not alerted me. This is irresponsible and a health risk to me. Some who may want the caffiene may want to know. To keep it rather hidden in small print is deceptive and just plain wrong. I will not buy or drink it anymore.
Who are you talking to? We don’t make an Orange soda. You need to voice your complaint to the company in question.
Thanks
Cool
I have been getting these lumps in my breats and my doctor said it can come from too much caffeine in the body. The only thing I really drink/eat that could be a problem, was soda. So here I am, now I understand! She said that the problem is something called… well it has the word fiber in it.!!
I have never heard of such a thing from consuming too much caffeine? In Fact, the contributing doctor at Mayo Clinic says the opposite. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cysts/AN00889. I believe consuming soda on a daily basis is never a good idea for anyone’s good health though.
I have to debate the response from Ted. My sister-in-law had lumps in her breasts, Dr’s did a biopsy and found fibroscysts (spelling could be wrong) but to the point: Dr’s said they were benign and nothing to worry about, however, was told they were caused by too much caffeine in her diet
Yes, I agree that diet pepsi can cause lumps
What a douchebag. On the internet, whatever the topic, there’s ALWAYS a troll.
People act like caffeine is a bad thing. I won’t waste money on soda that doesn’t have caffeine in it. I wish they all had more, and that there were more flavors that were caffeinated, or better yet, had that as an option.
Maybe once you get a bit older Caffineboy you will understand the way too much caffine effects you body.
Apparently, you’re spelling shows an alcohol issue.
You’re = “you are”. You should have spelled it “your”.
It is called Jolt Cola Dr.Browns Jolt Cola.
Thank you for contacting Kroger. We appreciate your inquiry regarding the caffeine amount in the Extreme Citrus Drop. The Caffeine amount is 70.09mg per 12 oz
they usually all diet sodas
Hello? What do you think lite beer is? 1/3 less calories than regular.
It’s kinda nasty, but it’s all we had back then. So, I drank it and acquired a taste for it. They probably make it with Splenda now which improves the taste of everything.
hmm i belive it but wow!! Some say that coffee has more caffine than soda true? Or does it depend on the soda or type of coffee?
i agree cheerwines amazing best pop around
Very interesting. Is there any diet beer?
wouldnt jolt be considered an energy drink?
i mean i dont know of any soda that has guarana, ginseng, and taurine, but i know a few energy drinks
what the heck is TAB?
I always drink things like Monsters and Venom and stuff. Never anything else….
does Schweppers Soda gingembre contain caffeine?
I just got back from the hospital bc my heart rate was out of this world. My roommate bought Diet Mountain Dew and i oviously didnt realize how much caffeine it had in it and now im paying for it with having horrible shakes and a racing heartbeat.
Apparently I should proof read better or drink less Red Bull:
My recent findings, as described by Health Canada, are that caffeine is allowed to be added to a food product
should read:
My recent findings, as described by Health Canada, are that caffeine is _not_ allowed to be added to a food product
A note on the Canadian regulations:
I was doing some research into the Mountain Dew in Canada (where I live) as someone told me the cola only caffeine was not true anymore and I was not able to provide a good reason why it would still be in place. My recent findings, as described by Health Canada, are that caffeine is allowed to be added to a food product, which soda beverages are classified, unless it is a cola-type beverage. All other products with added caffeine are listed as health products which are not regulated as food which is where the energy drinks made their inroads to Canada.
The other interesting tidbit I learned was that Canada is one of the only nations in the world to regulate caffeine as a food additive. I am supposing the amount of caffeine in coffee, tea and chocolate and the associated consumption has led to a general belief that caffeine is safe in any quantity but here that belief is not held (which I think may actually be somewhat smart in that too much of anything is not usually good.) This lack of regulation may also have changed recently based on some of the other articles/postings I have seen regarding the European Union and United States.
always use a straw best way to save ur teeth
Then Diet Pepsi Max shouldn’t be on the list. The Pepsi Max line is part of Pepsi’s energy drink line.
well see it could have been 46.55 grams of caffeine as opposed to 46.53 grams of caffeine which would make it have more. That was an easy one; somebody did not pass 6th grade math
There are caffeine-free “no caffeine” carbonated drinks for just about every large name brand soda (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc.). As far as caffeinated medication, yes, some OTC medications do contain caffeine, such as Excedrin, but this is not plain Acetaminophen (Brand name Tylenol). After ingesting caffeine, it is completely absorbed within 30 to 45 minutes, and its effects substantially diminish within about three hours. It is eventually excreted so there is no accumulation in the body. Caffeine has been shown to affect mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system, and gastric and colonic activity (www.medicinenet.com) Caffeine is actually used in certain instances for medical treatments, such as with alcoholics who receive “banana bags” which contain multivitamins and other additives, one of which is caffeine. There is also a study showing Caffeinol, a drug combination of a huge does of caffeine and alcohol are helpful with stroke patients. Caffeine is good, but as we all should know, you can have too much of a good thing.
Check out http://www.energyfiend.com for a huge database of Caffeinated Products.
hey can anyone help me. . . . . .i have to do a science report on “What kind of soda has the most caffeine in it and what kind of cocktail is the most fattening”
canada has some strict labeling issues and requested mt dew be labled as an energy drink for the amount of sugar and caffeine, however amped is already the mt dew branded energy drink rather then change formula or labling they pulled all caffinated versions of mt dew from the canada. at this point in time there is no caffiene in any mt dew in canada.
does Dr Pepper taste good? I’ve heard so much about it, but I live in Australia so the only thing I really drink from this list is Coke/Pepsi/Sunkist/Mount Dew. hmm. . .
Now you can do a comparison of the top 10 DIET energy drinks. There’s only 10000 of them.
Great list I’ve never heard of many.
WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE SOMEDAY….Please….GET REAL
come to UT you can find almost anytype of Soda you want with out caffeine (except Sunkist {dammit!}) There is no sundrop or cheerwine here but there are other local sodas here that have a similar flavor. (God bless Shasta Black Cherry).
I have been drinking Diet Sunkist for several years now and just learned that it does have caffeine! I was told by my doctor not to have any caffeine boy was I wrong when I started drinking Diet Sunkist.
I only drink one a day so I think I will just keep on drinking………….
I can’t believe the caffeine in the diet sunkist orange drink. Also I am pretty surprised diet pepsi isnt on the list as well!
Squirt Citrus power has 73 mg. per 8 oz. Beats the pants off of Jolt (71.2 Mg.)
well i guess that its not as bad for you as we thought you know
ahahahahahah. all i have to say is, ew.
I could never tolerate the taste of diet sodas…until the day I tried diet Pepsi MAX…I really do enjoy this soda and can even drink them warm…thanks to Pepsi for this great soda.
My can says 69mg. Wonder why 69mg? (Also in Diet Pepsi Max)
So we should basically keep on drinking what we love? You know… I never ever thought this would happen but I feel enlightened. I think this is such a phenomenon. Thank you so much and happy trick or treating. [I’m giving out soda’s this year.] Yeay! [:
You can order Cheerwine off their website. A bit pricey but if you’ve grown up on the stuff, then moved away (like I did), and want to get it, they’ll ship 2 12-packs ($12 plus shipping) to your door.
Caffeine is also a big issue for those with heartburn problems. The caffeine relaxes the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) which allows stomach acid to wash back into the esophagus. Over time this causes permanent damage, not to mention the pain.
I’m coming a little late to the game, but I’ll mention my favorite: Diet Manhattan Special.
i love the new diet pepsi max (thanks for the review)…it gives me that extra punch i need by the end of the work day…and their commercials crack me up!! i was on their website watching the ads the other day and pass them around the office…makes me yawn everrrry time =)
Karen–yeah, I live in Wisconsin and we can get caffeine-free Mountain Dew. But then, what’s the point? LOL. I only drink Diet Dew when I need a quick burst of caffeine.
When I lived in the midwest (Nebraska), I could be caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew. Have they stopped making it in the US? I know it’s not available on the west coast, but just assumed it was still on the shelves back home.
STOP DRINKING ANYTHING WITH ASPARTAME OR YOU WILL DIE….
You will die not drinking aspartame regardless.
No one has mentioned my favorite (spelled favourite here in Australia) — no caffeine Diet Coke. If it is not on the shelf when I’m shopping I MIGHT buy the other lo-cal Coca-Cola and Pepsi drinks, but usually I pass them up and wait for the no caffeine Diet Coke at the next store or on my next shopping trip. Most of the previous comments seem to be from the USA (where I was born and lived the first twenty-one years of my life) or Canada. Here in Australia, the no caffeine Diet Coke is readily available. Is it a line that is not sold in the USA/Canada?
Side note / comment about caffeine. In 1993 my husband and I made a three-month trip to the USA. At one stage I needed a pain killer and went to various pharmacies (known here as chemists or chemist shops) looking for what I had been taking here — paracetamol. The major brand for it here is Panadol, but I buy it as a cheaper generic house brand from the major supermarkets.
After unsuccessfully scouring the shelves of several pharmacies in Minneapolis, where we happened to be at the time, reading the active ingredients on all kinds of pain killers and getting nowhere, I asked the pharmacist if it was available in the US or was not on the shelf because it was by prescription only. Paracetamol meant nothing to him, but he checked it for me and found it was sold in the US as acetaminophen. I bought some and took them according to the package instructions, as I did with paracetamol in Australia.
Later that day while we were visiting one of my high school teachers and his wife I found myself “charged up” or acting rather “hyper.” As I had not seen these people for over twenty years, I put my feelings down to excitement which I also figured was the reason I spent hours trying to get to sleep that night.
The next day I discovered that the painkillers contained caffeine. At that stage I drank one or two cups of tea a day and had a cup of coffee once or twice a year. Perhaps those who have caffeine in one form or another would not have reacted to the painkillers as I did, but once I stopped taking them I was able to calm down again.
Panadol and the generic brands of paracetamol here do not contain anything else (at least the ones I buy don’t).
While writing this I could not remember what paracetamol is known as in the US. Googling “paracetamol” + “name in USA” gave me several results including this one – http://www.irishhealth.ie/askdoc.html?q=5703§ion=1 (watch the wraparound, depending on how this prints online) – which provided it for me.
Have I started a new thread — caffeine in medications?
Merna
Coca-cola define Vault as a “Hybrid Energy Soda” – they do not classify it as a regular carbonated soft drink.
How could you leave out Vault Zero? At 70.5mg per 12oz. can, it ranks higher than any of the others listed. (And is my current favorite, btw.)
Most of the drinks that have been mentioned in the comments (Jolt, Red Bull, etc.) fall under the energy drink label, which is not what this list is about
Yeah, cheerwine rocks!
FYI, Vault Zero has 70.5 mg of caffeine in a 12 oz. can.
Get the real scoop on coffee at http://www.CaffeineAwareness.org
And if you drink decaf you wont want to miss this special FREE report on the Dangers of Decaf available at http://www.soyfee.com
Wow. Maybe I’ll just give up soda altogether…
To Christine and Cowbow_k
Those are very interesting tidbits – thanks for the enlightenment!
To whom are you referring? Am I missing something here? Nobody is promoting diet drinks.
As a Type I diabetic for 41 years I’ve drunk a whole lot of aspartame and still prefer it over all the other garbage sweeteners out there, so Mike H, thanks for handing me a death sentence because you have no idea what its like to NOT have an option. Truvia, Stevia or whatever you want to call it is awful in hot beverages and on fruit, it has a fruity taste and changes the flavor of everything. I can’t have regular sugar sweetened items or it raises my blood sugar – I’ve managed to avoid complications for 41 years and plan to continue to do so…and continue to use aspartame! Maybe if you had no choice you’d be more understanding. There is nothing wrong with aspartame – it certainly isn’t going to cause anyone’s death. If it did I’d be gone long ago. Stop being melodramatic and understand some of us are happy to have options like aspartame because we don’t have any other choice – except regular sugar which will raise glucose levels and cause complications and serious problems. Not an option. Aspartame is just fine in my book.
Haha …. you can’t reason with social justice warriors …. their mission in life is to spurt out accusations & condemnation in every direction, whether it makes any sense or not.
You should eventually be held responsible for all the future deaths caused by Aspartame and your promotion of this poison. Good job death dealer.
Diet Red Bull has 80mg caffeine in an 8.3oz can – so it’s almost 70% more caffeinated than Diet Pepsi Max…
Seems like this isn’t the definitive list.
A couple years ago, Mountain Dew figured out how to work around that here in Canada – they started selling “Mountain Dew Energy” as an energy drink, which doesn’t fall under the same regulations as normal soft drinks – I believe it’s classified as a “nutritional supplement”, and they just have to show the caffeine in the list of “active medicinal ingredients”. 🙂
Actually, I think that *used* to be true for all of Canada (as your parentals about mixing the colour with the margarine) but it was changed a handful of years ago; we can now buy butter-coloured margarine, rather than that garishly coloured stuff.
What? No Jolt?
Jolt Ultra is Jolt’s suger-free version. From there Website (http://www.joltenergy.com/Fridge/tabid/80/Default.aspx)
Jolt Ultra
No carbs, no calories, just caffeine, Vitamin B
complex, guarana, ginseng, taurine and great
taste, so you can drink more and do more
naturally.
thats because your an idiot
This list does not include anything in the Energy Drink category – but just low-calorie CSDs (Carbonated Soft Drinks).
Reduced sugar does not mean reduced caffeine.
You guys forgot Rockstar Zero. No carbs, no sugar, 280 mgs of Caffeine
Is the caffeine level increased across other Coke brands, such as Coke Zero, or the Splenda-sweetened Diet Coke?
How on EARTH does Tab have more caffeine than diet coke, but they both are listed as 46.5 grams? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Thanks! Shouldn’t surprise me with some of the other bizare food legislation they have here. In Quebec you aren’t allowed to make margarine the same colour as butter!?
No sugar… This particular list is all DIET sodas. That’s also why there’s no Jolt sodas here, as they are all sugared concoctions.
i cannot tell you how much i LOVE pepsi max. i am a huge fan of diet pepsi (i drink it when i want a cola drink, but it’s less harsh on my teeth), but pepsi max now takes that title of favorite soda. i like even more than regular pepsi! i really hope they keep it around.
Daily drinker of Pepsi One, I like that is uses Splenda, which is like the only artificial sweetener that hasnt caused cancer in lab rats, YET.
Interesting about the Sunkist.
Diet Pepsi Max is SUPPOSED to have more caffeine- hence the name MAX! Tastes really good too!
Maksimir: Jolt Ultra you mean?
12oz of that has approx 77 mg caffeine.
I am surprised Jolt Cola is not on the list, they must have missed it.
Mike H. I think it’s the law in Canada that only dark-coloured pop can be caffeinated? I’m not too clear on that one. Barq’s is caffeinated, but that’s the only non-cola that has any caffeine in it.
Crystal Light recently started selling a new version of their “On The Go” packets. It’s for energy in the flavor of wild strawberry. This little packet makes 2 servings of 60mg of caffeine… And you’re definately gonna use the whole packet. That’s 120mg of caffeine… What a kick!!!!
Cherry flavored
So does Cheerwine taste like wine? Like cheer … ?
Diet Sunkist is awesome! My brother drinks the regular Sunkist and no one believes us when we tell them that it has a good jolt of caffeine. Everyone always says: “Orange soda doesn’t have caffeine”. Yes, except for Sunkist and Diet Sunkist.
Oh, btw…I love Diet SunDrop. That’s some good stuff.
I’ve never tried that new Diet Pepsi Max, but I’d be curious to see what it tastes like.
Cheerwine is awesome. I went to college in NC and got hooked on it. I never tried diet until this year. Now I’m up in PA but my brother lives down there so whenever he comes to visit or anyone in the family goes down there they have to get me my fix. Its awesome.
What the heck is Diet Cheerwine? Hilarious.
I’ve always known that mountain dew was particularly high in caffeine (I think the regular is also 55mg) but I found out a couple years back that up here in Canada it contains none! I wonder if this is the same for the diet version. Anyone know?
HaHa!! Cheerwine rules!! It’s a small company in North Carolina that persisted due to local loyalty and their refusal to sell out to the big soda company!(Coke and Pepsi)
hmmm isn’t it amazing how they can get so many grams of caffeine AND sugar into these cans? just amazing ….i feel sick ><
Wow, when I took a trip to North Carolina this summer, I drank Diet Sundrop every day! Who knew?
There are some sodas on this list that I’ve never heard of in my life. But this is good info to know. I’ve been cutting back on soda for about a year now, ever since I noticed that cafee sometimes give me headaches and can make me feel a little dizzy. Now I only drink it occasionally when eating out.
Diet Cheerwine? …