It might come off as a surprise, but not all energy drinks from the same brand share the same formula; what might work in one part of the world might not be accepted in another.
This, of course, leads to energy drinks with the same name having a completely different formula on the other side of the world, and one such instance is with Bang Australia.
In short, Bang Australia has a pretty different formula than its original version,
While still sugar-free, each 500ml can of Australian Bang has 4 calories, only 160mg of caffeine, and lacks many of Bang’s trademark ingredients such as EAAs and SuperCreatine.
For a more in-depth look at the differences between the original version of Bang and its Australian edition, read on to find out.
Australian Bang Nutrition Facts
First up, let’s take a look at the nutrition facts of both the original and Australian Bang to see how much they differ from one another.
| Standard Values | Bang Australia (500ml) | Bang Original (473ml) |
| Energy | 4 calories | 0 calories |
| Fat (Of which saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrates (of which sugars) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 300mg |
| Sodium | 13mg | 40mg |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
| Potassium | – | – |
| Calcium | – | 5mg |
| Magnesium | – | 5mg |
| Vitamin C | – | 27mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.8mg | – |
| Vitamin B3 | 6.5mg | 5mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 2.0mg | – |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.5mg | 0.5mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.8μg | 1.5 |
| Inositol | 14mg | – |
How Many Calories Are in Australian Bang?
A standard 500ml can of Bang Australia has 4 calories, which isn’t that much higher than the original Bang, which happens to be calorie-free.
Given that you only need about 2000 to 2500 calories per day (depending on biological and external factors), a can of Australian Bang won’t affect your diet much, considering that it’s almost calorie-free,
This makes Australian Bang pretty attractive if you’re someone who watches your daily caloric intake or don’t want your appetites ruined by a high-calorie sugary energy drink.
That being said, you’re not actually getting any actual ‘energy’ from Bang Australia either, with most of the boost you’re getting coming mainly from the caffeine.
As such, Bang Australia is great if you need a caloric pick-me-up, though it’s definitely not a good substitute for an actual meal either, considering the difference in both nutritional and caloric content.
So if you are using this version of Bang as a pre-workout drink, be sure to stock up on some calories beforehand so that you have enough energy to burn throughout the workout.
In any case, if you need some other zero-calorie energy drinks, check out the article I’ve written on the best-zero calorie energy drinks for some great alternatives.
Bang Australia Ingredients
A brief list of ingredients from the Australian version of Bang Energy.
- Carbonated Water
- Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Potassiums Phosphate Dibasic)
- Flavours
- Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate)
- Sweetener (Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium)
- Caffeine
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
- Niacin (Vitamin B3)
- Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Magnesium Sulphate
- Inositol
- Stabiliser (Calcium Chloride)
Among the ingredients not found in Australian Bang but are present in the original version include:
- EAAs (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-lysine, L-threonine, L-phenylalanine, L-histidine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan)
- SUPER CREATINE® (Creatyl-L-Leucine [Creatine bonded to L-Leucine])
- CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
While I won’t be diving into the nitty-gritty of the ingredients of Original Bang in this article, if you’d like more information, check out the article I’ve written on the caffeine and ingredients of Bang Energy.
And if you’re up for more, the article I’ve written on the lab tests I’ve done with Bang Energy Drink should prove informative as well.
Bang Australia Caffeine Content
A 500ml can of Australian Bang only has 160mg of caffeine, which is about half of what you would expect from an Original Bang, which has 300mg per serving.
While original Bang has one of the most highly caffeinated energy drinks on the market, Australian Bang actually has a pretty standard amount of caffeine for an energy drink.
For reference, a can of Bang Australia has the same amount of caffeine as a 473ml can of Rockstar or Monster, which aren’t strong energy drinks by any stretch of the imagination.
But when it comes to caffeine, it’s not really about how much caffeine is present in the drink, but how well you’re able to adapt to caffeine to use it to its full effect.
My ideal caffeine content in an energy drink is between 50 and 100 milligrams per serving; this gives me a noticeable boost without triggering any unwanted side effects, such as a pounding heart or a headache.
This means that the caffeine concentration of a can of Bang Australia is greater than I’m used to but not so high that I wouldn’t contemplate drinking one if I needed an energy boost.
In any case, it’s really up to your overall caffeine metabolism and how used you are to caffeine which affects how much caffeine you need to get a good boost going.
Still, it’s best not to have too much caffeine. The FDA recommends you limit your daily caffeine intake to a maximum of 400mg. Going over that limit may lead to some serious side effects, such as:
- Insomnia
- Shakiness
- Anxiousness
- Increased Heart Rate
- Stomachaches
- Nausea
- Headaches
As with any caffeinated beverage, moderation is key. So be sure you stick to keep your intake of Australian Bang at a tolerable level.
Does Bang Australia Use Artificial Sweeteners?
As with Original Bang, Bang Australia also has artificial sweeteners, namely, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which improve the taste of the drink.
As sucralose and acesulfame potassium are zero-calorie sweeteners, they don’t have any substantial impact on your diet, and you can thus enjoy their sweet taste without feeling too much guilt afterwards.
That being said, there’s still a bit of uncertainty regarding the long-term use of artificial sweeteners, so keeping your overall consumption levels at a low level is definitely recommended.
In any case, Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium have been approved for general use by the FDA and other health agencies, so as long as you’re not having too many beverages with artificial sweeteners, you should be fine.
Other Ingredients
Inositol
Inositol is a vitamin-like substance created in the body that’s responsible for maintaining chemical balance and assisting in insulin functionings.
Inositol has positive effects on the nervous system, such as reducing feelings of anxiety. That said, the dosage for such a benefit is between 12 to 18g, which is a lot higher than what’s in energy drinks.
Furthermore, there isn’t a lot of information regarding the usage of Inositol in the context of energy drinks, so some research has to be put into that before we can make any concrete decisions.
As there’s only 14mg of inositol present in Bang Australia, you’re probably not going to get any noticeable benefits from it. On the bright side, it won’t have a negative impact on you, either.
Vitamins
Australian Bang also has a different set of vitamins in comparison to its original counterpart, with the inclusion of Vitamin B1 and B5 as well
The table below should give you an overview of what the Vitamins in Bang do, and check the link here if you want further info.
Purpose | Amount per 500ml of Australian Bang | Amount per 473ml of Bang | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B1 | Growth and function of various cells. | 0.8mg | – | – |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Helps the body release energy, keeps the skin healthy. | 6.5mg | 5mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B5 | Builds and breaks down fatty acids, other metabolic functions. | 2.0mg | – | – |
| Vitamin B6 | Store energy from protein and carbohydrates, formation of red blood cells | 0.5mg | 0.5mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | Release energy from food, forms red blood cells, keeps nervous system healthy | 1.8μg | 1.5µg | N/A |
| Vitamin C | Antioxidant | – | 27mg | 2000mg |
How Is Bang Australia Different?
| Bang Australia (500ml) | Bang Original (473ml) | Daily Max Limit (Male/Female) | |
| Calories | 4 calories | 0 calories | 2000 calories/ 2500 calories |
| Sugar | 0g | 0g | 24g/36g |
| Caffeine | 160mg | 300mg | 400mg |
For a quick rundown of what’s different between the original and the Australian version of Bang:
- Australian Bang has a slightly higher caloric content than the original Bang (4 calories vs 0 calories)
- Australian Bang has a significantly lower amount of caffeine than the original Bang (160mg vs 300mg)
- Australian Bang does not contain EAAs, Coenzyme Q10 or the trademarked SuperCreatine®, unlike the original version.
Based on these factors, while Bang Australia definitely shares the Bang name, it doesn’t really have the properties you would associate with Bang, such as the high caffeine content or unique ingredients.
As such, it’s really best to treat Original and Australian Bang as two completely separate energy drinks, with the Australian version definitely being a milder, much more casual version of the original drink.
Australian Bang vs Regular Bang
Personally, Australian Bang is much more suited to my personal taste, mainly due to the lower amount of caffeine present in the drink.
While sharing in the same brand name, Australian Bang does happen to tick more of my boxes as a low-calorie energy drink without an overly excessive amount of caffeine.
While the original Bang’s high caffeine content is definitely useful in some circumstances, Australian Bang is a lot more suited for casual occasions when you need a small boost but don’t want to go bouncing off the walls.
You’re also a lot less likely to suffer from caffeine-related side-effects with Australian Bang, which makes it a lot better for you if you’re caffeine-sensitive or happen to be new to energy drinks in general.
All-in-all, it’s really up to you as to which version of Bang you prefer. Just be sure about your overall caffeine tolerance and try to keep your overall energy drink consumption at a reasonable level.
Alternatives to Bang
If neither version of Bang particularly catch your fancy, here are some energy drinks that might work well for you:
- Rockstar
- Red Bull
- Celsius
- Reign
- Venom Energy
- Game Fuel
- Raze
- C4 Energy
- Amino
- 3D Energy
- 5 Hour Energy
- Adrenaline Shoc
- NOS Energy
- Full Throttle
There are also plenty of powdered energy drinks, which you customise to your personal taste preferences, making them great for those who may not have the best caffeine-sensitivity.
Here are some awesome choices:
- G Fuel
- Advocare Spark
- Zipfizz
- REIZE (my fav)
REIZE (10 out of 10)
While the Australian version of Bang may be pretty good in its own right, I find REIZE to be a better option.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, it’s completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serve.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, combining to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterwards.
Best of all, you can get REIZE delivered straight to your door for only about $1 per drink, which is pretty outstanding value for money.
Try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll find it to be a preferable alternative to Bang Australia