"At many gas stations across the Midwest and South, Gen Zers have discovered "heavy" options on soda-fountain machines, where the syrup-to-water ratio is boosted for extra sweetness and flavor. The drinks are intentionally made stronger to withstand dilution from melting ice, allowing the soda to taste like it typically does as the ice melts. The hack appeals to those who purchase a single, large drink and keep adding ice and water throughout the day, effectively extending the life-and value-of each purchase."
"Economic constraints become part of a collective ethos: living large on little, and making the most out of limited means. Beverage choices for Gen Z differ markedly from previous generations, with customization, affordability, and the chance for self-expression taking precedence over status or luxury. For many, a gas-station soda is no longer just a drink, but a miniature act of financial resilience-and a way to partake in trending culture even when funds are low."
Gen Z customers are ordering "heavy" sodas at gas-station fountain machines that increase the syrup-to-water ratio for extra sweetness and to resist dilution from melting ice. The practice lets a single large purchase be replenished with ice and water throughout the day, stretching value and making one purchase last. Economic pressures from rising inflation, stagnant wages, and pandemic fallout limit disposable income and encourage thrift, budgeting, and creative hacks. The trend is shared on TikTok and functions as both practical financial resilience and a form of social identity and self-expression.
Read at Fortune
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