From April 2027, high-caffeine energy drinks are set to leave vending machines in England. That leaves operators with a simple question: what can go in their place?

The answer is low caffeine drinks. This guide explains where the legal line sits, lists nine of the best low caffeine drinks for vending and shows how to rebuild your range so sales hold up.

What counts as low caffeine drinks?

The government has said the rules apply to drinks “other than tea or coffee” with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre. You can read the details in the GOV.UK announcement.

That threshold works out at 15mg per 100ml. For vending, low caffeine drinks are simply any drinks at or below that level, plus tea and coffee, which are exempt whatever their strength.

Most popular energy drinks sit at around 30 to 34mg per 100ml, more than double the line. Most colas sit well below it.

Low caffeine drinks: 9 best picks for vending

1. Classic colas

Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain around 10mg of caffeine per 100ml. They are among the best-selling low caffeine drinks in any machine and need no special handling.

2. Diet and zero-sugar colas

Diet Coke has slightly more caffeine than the original, at about 13mg per 100ml, while Pepsi Max sits at about the same level. Both stay below the line and suit customers cutting sugar.

3. Lucozade Energy

Lucozade says its Energy drinks contain about 12mg of caffeine per 100ml. That makes it one of the most useful low caffeine drinks for buyers who still want an “energy” product.

4. Sports drinks

Powerade, BodyArmor and Lucozade Sport contain little or no caffeine. They suit gyms, sports venues and active workplaces.

5. Still and sparkling water

Water has no caffeine and sells everywhere. Flavoured and sparkling waters add variety at a good price.

6. Fruit juice

Juices and juice drinks are caffeine-free. They work well in schools, hospitals and family venues.

7. Lemonade and caffeine-free sodas

Lemon-lime drinks, orange sodas and root beer usually contain no caffeine. Check each label, because a few citrus sodas do contain caffeine.

8. Iced tea

Tea drinks are exempt from the rules, and most canned iced teas are low in caffeine anyway. They add a lighter option to the range.

9. Canned coffee

Coffee is exempt too, so canned iced coffee can stay in machines. It’s a strong replacement for buyers who used energy drinks for a lift.

Caffeine levels compared

The table below shows typical caffeine levels for common low caffeine drinks against the 15mg per 100ml line. Figures are approximate; recipes change, so always check the label.

Drink	Caffeine per 100ml	Vending after 2027 (England)
Water, juice, lemonade	0mg	Allowed
Most sports drinks	0mg	Allowed
Coca-Cola	About 10mg	Allowed
Lucozade Energy	About 12mg	Allowed
Diet Coke, Pepsi Max	About 13mg	Allowed
Iced tea, canned coffee	Varies	Exempt
Monster, Red Bull, Venom	About 30–34mg	Not allowed

How to check a label

The quickest test is the warning on the can. Drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre must already carry a high caffeine warning, stating they are not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If a drink carries that warning and isn’t a tea or coffee, it can’t go in a vending machine in England from April 2027. If it doesn’t, it counts among the low caffeine drinks you can keep.

Watch out for new launches and imports. Some lesser-known brands and imported sodas have higher caffeine than you’d expect.

Why low caffeine drinks matter for operators

Energy drinks have been strong sellers at workplaces, late-night sites and universities. Losing them leaves gaps in machines that operators need to fill quickly.

Low caffeine drinks fill those gaps without breaking the rules. Choosing the right mix protects sales and keeps your site host happy.

For the background on the change, see our guide to the energy drink vending machine and how branded machines can be restocked.

Low caffeine drinks that replace energy drinks best

Energy drink buyers usually want one of three things: a lift, a big sweet drink or something cold after a hard shift. Different low caffeine drinks meet each need.

• For a lift: canned coffee and Lucozade Energy.
• For a big sweet drink: 500ml colas and juice drinks.
• For rehydration: sports drinks and water.

Put the closest substitutes in the columns your energy drinks used. Regular buyers will find them where they expect.

Caffeine-free drinks to stock

Caffeine-free options are the safest low caffeine drinks of all. Water, juice and most sports drinks contain none, so they suit any site, including those with younger customers.

Lemon-lime sodas and root beer are popular caffeine-free choices. Our 7UP Green Drinks Machine and A&W Root Beer Machine are built around these kinds of drinks.

Fruit juice machines such as the Welch’s Fruit Juice Machine suit schools, hospitals and family venues, where caffeine is best avoided altogether.

Low caffeine drinks by site

The best low caffeine drinks depend on who uses the machine. Here is a starting point for common sites.

• Offices: colas, zero-sugar drinks, water and canned coffee.
• Gyms: sports drinks, water and zero-sugar options. See vending machines for gyms.
• Warehouses and factories: 500ml colas, Lucozade Energy and canned coffee. See vending machines for warehouses.
• Construction sites: large colas, sports drinks and water. See vending machines for construction sites.
• Schools: water and juice only. See vending machines for schools.

Low caffeine drinks at gyms and sports venues

Gym-goers often bought energy drinks before training. Low caffeine drinks such as sports drinks and electrolyte water now take that slot.

A branded machine like the Powerade Sports Drink Machine or BodyArmor Sports Drink Machine makes the switch obvious to customers. Our sports drink vending machine guide explains how to build a hydration range.

Low caffeine drinks for workplaces

At offices and warehouses, coffee is likely to absorb most energy drink demand. A hot drinks machine such as the Nescafé Hot Drinks Machine pairs well with a chilled machine full of low caffeine drinks.

Night shifts are where the change bites hardest. Keep canned coffee and Lucozade Energy well stocked for those hours. Our coffee vending machine guide covers hot drink options.

Restocking an energy drinks machine

Branded machines such as the Monster Energy Drinks Machine and Venom Energy Drinks Machine are chilled drinks machines underneath. You can fill them with low caffeine drinks and keep using them.

Check that each column suits the new can or bottle size. Slim cans, 330ml cans and 500ml bottles may need different settings.

Sell through your remaining energy stock before April 2027. Then switch columns over one by one and watch which low caffeine drinks sell best.

Some operators keep the energy branding because it still draws attention in a canteen or corridor. Others prefer a neutral wrap so the machine matches its new contents. Either way, the cooling, payment system and columns stay the same, so the switch costs very little.

Clean the machine and check the seals while it is empty. A full service between ranges is cheaper than a breakdown later.

Planning a low caffeine drinks range

A simple range works best. Aim for a balance of best-sellers, zero-sugar options and caffeine-free choices.

• Two or three colas, including a zero-sugar option
• One or two Lucozade-style energy drinks
• Two sports drinks
• Still and sparkling water
• One juice or juice drink
• Canned coffee or iced tea

Our vending machine planogram guide shows how to lay out a machine so the best low caffeine drinks sit at eye level.

Sugar, health and low caffeine drinks

Low caffeine doesn’t always mean healthy. Many colas and juice drinks are high in sugar, and full-sugar soft drinks pay the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.

Zero-sugar versions keep the taste without the sugar, though caffeine levels stay similar. For more on healthier ranges, see our healthy vending machine guide.

Sites such as hospitals and schools may have their own food and drink standards. Check them before you set your range.

Pricing low caffeine drinks

Energy drinks often sold at premium prices. Most low caffeine drinks sell for less, so pricing needs a little care.

500ml bottles, branded sports drinks and canned coffee can carry higher prices. Water and 330ml cans sell on value. Our vending machine pricing guide explains how to set prices that sell.

Low caffeine drinks outside England

The rules announced so far apply to England only. Operators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can still sell energy drinks for now, but they could follow with their own rules.

Building a strong range of low caffeine drinks now protects you if those rules arrive. It also suits customers who are cutting back on caffeine anyway.

Our vending machine regulations guide covers the wider rules for UK machines.

Cold drinks demand is still growing

The change comes at a time when cold drinks are doing well in vending. The AVA’s 2025 census found cold drink sales in UK vending grew by 15.4%, faster than food, snacks or hot drinks.

That growth gives operators room to adjust. Customers are still buying chilled drinks; the job is to give them low caffeine drinks they want just as much.

Many buyers are also cutting back on caffeine and sugar by choice. A range built on water, zero-sugar colas and sports drinks fits that trend well.

Low caffeine drinks for universities and students

Students have long bought energy drinks around exams and late study sessions. Universities may also have under-16 visitors on open days and summer schools, which adds to the case for change.

Canned coffee, colas and Lucozade Energy are the obvious low caffeine drinks to replace them. Water and juice keep the range balanced. See our guide to vending machines for universities for placement ideas.

Telling customers about the change

Regular buyers will notice when their usual energy drink disappears. A short sign on the machine helps, explaining that the rules changed and pointing to the alternatives.

Label the new low caffeine drinks clearly, such as “canned coffee” or “Lucozade Energy”. Clear choices stop people walking away empty-handed.

Site hosts appreciate being told early too. A quick note to your contact shows you’re on top of the rules.

A timeline for switching to low caffeine drinks

Leaving the switch to the last week risks unsold stock and empty columns. A simple plan spreads the work out.

• Now to January 2027: trial low caffeine drinks in one or two columns per machine.
• February 2027: stop reordering high-caffeine energy drinks for machines in England.
• March 2027: sell through remaining stock and update signage.
• April 2027: machines in England carry only low caffeine drinks, tea and coffee.

Dates may move if Parliament changes the timetable, so keep an eye on official updates.

Where to buy low caffeine drinks

Cash and carry wholesalers, online wholesalers and some brand distributors all stock low caffeine drinks in vending-friendly packs. Buying in cases keeps the cost per unit down.

Compare prices across two or three suppliers before you commit. Our guide to vending machine stock suppliers lists the main options in the UK.

Tracking what sells

The first few months after the switch tell you a lot. Some low caffeine drinks will sell out fast while others sit untouched.

Telemetry shows sales by column, so you can swap slow lines quickly. Our vending machine telemetry guide explains how it works and what it costs.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming every drink called “energy” is banned. Lucozade Energy, for example, sits below the line.
• Assuming every cola is fine. Check imports and new launches, which can be stronger.
• Leaving high-caffeine stock in machines after April 2027.
• Replacing every energy drink with water alone, which loses buyers who wanted a lift.
• Forgetting to adjust prices for cheaper low caffeine drinks.

Hot drinks options

Tea and coffee are exempt from the rules, so hot drinks machines are unaffected. Decaf coffee, hot chocolate and herbal teas also give customers caffeine-free choices.

On sites where energy drinks sold well, a hot drinks machine can take up much of the demand. Coffee is the natural choice for people who want a lift on a long shift.

Hot chocolate and soup options are popular in winter. Pairing a hot drinks machine with a chilled machine covers customers all year round.

Seasonal changes to your range

Cold drinks sell faster in summer, especially water and sports drinks. In winter, colas and canned coffee often hold up better than water.

Review your range at the start of each season. Swap two or three columns rather than the whole machine, so regular buyers still find their favourites.

Questions site hosts ask

Will the machine still make money? Yes, if the range is right. Colas, sports drinks and canned coffee all sell well at workplaces and venues.

Who is responsible if a banned drink is sold? The person who controls the premises where the sale happens. Operators and hosts should agree who checks the stock.

Do we need a new machine? Usually not. Most chilled drinks machines can take the new range with only small column adjustments.

Card payments and the switch

Most drinks buyers now pay by card or phone, so contactless matters as much as the range itself. A machine that only takes coins loses sales.

If you’re switching ranges anyway, it’s a good time to check your payment system too. Our contactless payment guide explains the options for UK machines.

Machines for low caffeine drinks from Irelley

Irelley stocks a wide range of branded cold drinks machines that suit low caffeine drinks. Options include the Coca-Cola Modern Drinks Machine, the Pepsi Cold Drinks Machine, the Snapple Iced Tea & Juice Machine and the Dasani Water Bottle Vending Machine.

Every machine is tested before dispatch, delivered and installed free anywhere in the UK, and covered by a 12-month warranty. Card payment with telemetry costs £10 a month plus 2% per transaction.

The verdict on low caffeine drinks

The 2027 rules don’t empty your machines. Colas, Lucozade Energy, sports drinks, water, juice, tea and coffee all remain available, and together they cover almost every customer.

Plan your range, switch columns over before April 2027 and track what sells. Browse our vending machines for sale or contact our team for advice.