"To begin, we have to crack open a soda fountain. Sodas aren't dispensed from pre-mixed bottles like most people would expect. Instead, when you press on the dispensing lever, soda water and a flavor-rich syrup from your brand-of-choice are mixed together in the nozzle, then poured into your cup. In standard (or "light") sodas, the ratio is five parts soda and one part syrup. For heavy sodas, though, the amount of syrup is tweaked to give you a drink with more robust flavor."
"Armed with a cup full of ice, you're free to take your pick of anything from Sprite to Coke, and in places like Southern California, nostalgic options like Cactus Coolers. But if you live in the Midwest or your trips have taken you through America's heartland, you might've noticed that next to the usual options, there's one with a sticker saying "Heavy" on top."
Soda fountain drinks are made on demand by mixing carbonated water and concentrated flavored syrup in the nozzle, rather than pouring pre-mixed bottles. Standard fountain sodas typically use a five-to-one ratio of soda to syrup, while heavy sodas increase the syrup proportion for a sweeter, more concentrated taste. Heavy sodas are commonly labeled "Heavy" alongside a "light" option at gas stations, and canned sodas generally taste less concentrated than heavy fountain pours. The heavy-soda practice appears concentrated in the Midwest—especially southern Missouri—while people in many other regions report little or no exposure to the option.
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