Surprising sugars: Popular drinks that exceed a chocolate bar’s sweetness

While many of us are aware that chocolate should be eaten in moderation, some people choose to have a sweet drink instead, thinking it’s a healthier option. However, this might not always be the case.

According to a report by Nine Coach, many popular drinks in Australia actually have more sugar than an average chocolate bar. To put it into perspective, a standard Mars Bar contains 30.6 grams of sugar, equivalent to 51.7 grams of sugar per 100 grams.

Health guidelines suggest that adults should consume no more than 25 grams of free sugar daily. So, indulging in both a chocolate bar and a sweet drink could send your sugar consumption skyrocketing. But which drinks should you watch out for?

A 600ml bottle of Powerade, often chosen by athletes and active people for hydration, packs 35g of sugar. Interestingly, a standard 330ml bottle of Coca-Cola also contains 35g of sugar, matching Powerade gram for gram. Gatorade, very similar to Powerade, has just a bit more with 36g per bottle.

Red Bull, the energy drink famous for giving you “wings,” has 39.1g of sugar, while Bundaberg Ginger Beer goes even higher at 40.5g.

What might catch you off guard is that a 500ml bottle of orange juice from the Daily Juice Company holds 41.5g of sugar. Next time you reach for a juice thinking it’s the healthier choice, you might want to think again.

Dare Iced Coffee leads with 43.5g of sugar, while the energy drink V contains 53g per 500ml can. Monster Energy isn’t far behind, packing 50g of sugar.

Taking the top spot for the most sugar, however, is Oak Chocolate Milk. A beloved staple since 1967, a single carton of this flavoured milk will set you back 63.6g of sugar.

This follows the revelation that Fanta Grape holds the title for the most sugary soft drink in Australia, with Mountain Dew and Schweppes Traditional Raspberry trailing close behind.

TV chef Jamie Oliver has even called for a ban on sugary energy drinks for teenagers back in 2018, tweeting to encourage the UK Government to take action.

.@Jeremy_Hunt put age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s. Government should do what it says on the tin! #NotForChildren

— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) January 5, 2018

“Put age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s. Government should do what it says on the tin! #NotForChildren,” he wrote.

He expressed concern that these drinks are making young people hyper and stressed the need for action. Many online voices echoed his call for restrictions.

One person commented, “Well said, Jamie. As a teacher, I see the issues they cause with teenagers in the classroom when they’ve had them on their way to school.” Another teacher added, “In secondary school, it’s obvious how these ‘energy drinks’ impact our students and their learning. Keep pushing this issue.”

A third person suggested, “Ban them for adults too. They’re dangerous for raising blood pressure and pulse rate.”

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.