How Much Sugar Is Common in Soft Drinks and Gatorade?

Written by William McCoy

16 November, 2018

It can become a habit to reach for a soft drink during a trip to the movie theater or to sip from a bottle of Gatorade during your gym workout. Regardless of which one you prefer, these two types of drinks share a common trait: a high sugar content. Provided you aren't drinking a diet soft drink, expect to consume dozens of grams of sugar as you enjoy the refreshing drink.

More Than a Sweet Treat

A 20-fluid-ounce serving of Coca-Cola contains 65 grams of sugar; the same size serving of its competitor, Pepsi, has 69 grams of sugar. A 20-ounce bottle of Sprite contains 64 grams of sugar; Barq's Root Beer, 74 grams; and Mountain Dew, 77. Diet versions of sodas do not contain sugar. Regardless of their flavor, 20-ounce bottles of Gatorade have 34 grams of sugar. The G2 variety, which contains sugar and artificial sweeteners, has 12 grams of sugar in the same size bottle.

A 20-fluid-ounce serving of Coca-Cola contains 65 grams of sugar; the same size serving of its competitor, Pepsi, has 69 grams of sugar.
The G2 variety, which contains sugar and artificial sweeteners, has 12 grams of sugar in the same size bottle.