Christmas drinks sold by Starbucks, Costa and Pret have up to THREE times more sugar than a doughnut

It’s that time of year.

High street coffee chains have unveiled their festive drink offerings, a mix of gingerbread, eggnog and praline lattes topped with cream and hot chocolates flavoured with orange and mint. 

But experts have urged Britons against over-indulging in the festive sweet drinks at chains such as Costa, Caffe Nero and Pret in the run-up to Christmas.

One hot chocolate at Starbucks has nearly as much sugar as four Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a can of Coca-Cola and a Mars Bar. It even contains more calories than four McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives.

Meanwhile, Caffe Nero’s Christmas version of their hot chocolate, packed with salted caramel and brownie pieces, has double the amount of sugar as a homemade version. 

MailOnline looked at the nutritional content of 21 festive drinks available from high street chains. 

The data is for either the medium-sized option of each drink or the only available size in Pret and Caffe Nero.

Eleven of the options, costing up to £4.25, contained more than the maximum 30g (seven teaspoons) of free sugars that adults are advised not to exceed per day. Children are supposed to eat even less, with four to six-year-olds recommended to stick below 19g.

Free sugars are those added to food and drinks. These are different to those found naturally in fruit, vegetable and milk — which are not included in the 30g allowance. 

Eating too much sugar over time can lead to weight gain and tooth decay.

Starbucks’ Praline Cookie Hot Chocolate was the worst offender, containing 43.4g of sugar per mug — 45 per cent more than sugar than an adult should have in a day and the equivalent of roughly three-and-a-half Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts.

The festive brew also has 346 calories — as much as four chocolate digestives. 

Caffe Nero’s Salted Caramel Brownie Hot Chocolate contained 42.9g sugar per cup. By contrast, a version made at home with Cadbury’s Cocoa Powder and 200ml of semi-skimmed milk has roughly 23g. 

It is also the most calorific option on sale across the six chains analysed, with 441 per serving. This is more than a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger (438).

The Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate sold at Costa is the next-most sugary, with 42.2g per cup — more than two Kit Kat Chunky bars (20.5g each). It also contains 327 calories, as much as two one-and-a-half Mars bars, which have 228 calories per 51g bar.

The Macaroon Hot Chocolate was the most sugary option available at Pret, with 37.9g per cup. It also contains 395 calories. This is more than a can of Coca-Cola (139 calories and 35g sugar per 330ml can).

Meanwhile, the Mint Mocha was the most sugary option at Gregg’s (31g), containing more than two mince pies, which have around 14g of sugar per portion.

It is also packed with 293 calories, as much as three pigs in blankets (90 calories each).

McDonald’s festive chocolate option — Hot Chocolate Deluxe — was the least sugary option. However, it still has 28g, as much as one-and-a-half Twix bars (9.8g each). And it contains 201 calories — nearly as much as a McDonald’s Apple Pie (243 calories).

Dr Duane Mellor, a dietitian from Aston Medical School in Birmingham, told MailOnline: ‘When we look at these drinks, we can put them into context considering a can of regular Coca-Cola or Pepsi has around 135 calories and 35g of sugar and that is widely acknowledged as not an ideal drink choice.’

He added: ‘All of these have higher energy content than a can of regular soft drink, whereas a simple tea or coffee with a splash of milk will be less than 50 calories and contain no added sugar.

‘If it is a one off, maybe its not a big problem. But considering some of these drinks contain more energy than some sandwiches, it is important to think what goes with it. 

‘A lot of these drinks would be considered as substantial snacks based on their energy content so it may not be a good idea to have them with a mince pie or other festive nibble.

Dr Mellor added: ‘If you are looking for something a little different as a festive drink but are still trying to manage your sugar intake, perhaps think about spiced teas which get their flavour without the addition of sugar rich syrups.’

Harriet Burt, policy and communications officer at Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, told MailOnline: ‘Year on year these festive hot drinks continue to be ladened with excessive sugar and calories — some of which contain as much as 9.5 teaspoons of sugar in just one serve.

‘This drives home the need for measures such as a comprehensive sugar reduction programme or a reformulation tax, as proposed in the National Food Strategy, to ensure that companies are discouraged from pouring in so much unnecessary sugar in the first place.

‘This would have a positive impact on our nation’s health and their teeth.’

Dr Linda Greenwall, from charity Dental Wellness Trust, told MailOnline: ‘Sugary drinks are one of the main contributors to Britain’s tooth decay crisis — especially among children. 

‘Whilst it’s ok to have an occasional treat, consumers need to be aware of the excessive amounts of sugar in these drinks especially given the record numbers of children who are having multiple fillings or extractions, which is often a result of drinking these types of beverages. 

‘Coffee shops must be more responsible and stop putting profits before the health of our nation.’

A Caffe Nero spokesperson said: ‘Our festive drinks are an occasional treat for customers to choose if they wish. They are only available for a limited period and are only three drinks from a balanced range which include low to almost zero calorie coffee and other hot drinks.’ 

A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: ‘We know our customers love visiting us for their everyday favourites as well as for a festive treat with friends and family. 

‘We are proud of the balanced range of food and drinks we offer, with customisation options available to reduce calorie and sugar content. 

‘Alongside our always-on programme of reformulation, we also help our customers make the choice that’s right for them by providing clear nutritional information online, on our app, and in-store.’ 

It comes as England is in the grips of an obesity crisis, with 36 per cent of adults overweight and 28 per cent being obese.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight, while a quarter are obese. Rates soared during the pandemic, with experts blaming a rise in junk food sales and lower levels of activity.

Campaigners have urged the Government to take action on the health crisis.

Calories added to menus of large businesses and banning junk food from being displayed at prominent store locations are steps already taken this year.

But ministers have postponed the rest of their anti-obesity strategy, which is expected to see junk food adverts banned before 9pm and unhealthy items banned from buy-one-get-one-free deals.

And they are event thought to be reviewing the sugar tax, which charges soft drink makers if their drinks are too sugar-laden, despite it being credited with causing Britons to consume less.