Cheerwine has more caffeine than RC Cola: 47mg vs 43mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 4mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
RC Cola vs Cheerwine: the numbers
| RC Cola | Cheerwine | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 43mg per 12 oz bottle | 47mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 3.6mg | 3.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 9.3 | 8.5 |
Sources: RC Cola's figure is verified in our RC Cola caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Cheerwine's figure is verified in our Cheerwine guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick RC Cola when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Cheerwine when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- RC Cola: the full caffeine guide
- Cheerwine: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does RC Cola or Cheerwine have more caffeine? Cheerwine: 47mg per 12 oz can versus 43mg per 12 oz bottle for RC Cola.
Which is stronger per ounce? Cheerwine, at about 3.9mg per fluid ounce versus 3.6mg for RC Cola.
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