r/soda: missinglinksmanA Midwestern specialty called ‘heavy soda’ is taking over social media and sparking a debate among health-conscious users — but what is it, exactly?
TikTok is known for kicking off the odd food fad or two, but the latest trend sweeping the app is raising eyebrows among some viewers.
We’ve all been there; you go to the soda fountain at a fast food joint and pick your bev of choice, only for it to be super watery and disappointing, forcing you to go with a different option you didn’t really want in the first place.
‘Heavy Soda’ is the internet’s latest drink obsession
In the Midwest, companies have found a way to avoid this with a concoction called ‘heavy soda.’ No, it isn’t a ‘suicide’ beverage where you combine every soda together — instead, it’s simply pop with extra syrup for more flavor and extra sweetness.
It’s especially common in middle America, where ‘heavy’ sodas are labeled on fountain drink machines so customers with a sweet tooth can get exactly what they’re looking for.
While heavy soda has been a thing in the southern and midwestern United States for quite some time, the trend picked up in popularity in September 2025 after gas stations across Missouri started using it for certain drinks like Pepsi and Mountain Dew.
Users sounded off about the fad online, with some remarking that they’d never come across such a thing despite living in the South for many years.
“I have lived in the southern US my entire life and I have not seen this once. I am 32 years old,” one user said on the subreddit r/soda.
“I’ve lived in and been all over the south most of my life, and I have never heard of or seen this anywhere,” another commented.
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“In my memory, movie theaters growing up had that HEAVY Cherry Coke. I miss it,” yet another reminisced.
While it sounds like a tasty treat, health experts warn that too much soda can be seriously bad for your health. According to UCLA Health, soda is linked to “obesity, poor blood sugar control and diabetes,” with recent studies finding an association with “high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.”
Soda is extremely high in sugar, with a typical 12-ounce (oz) can containing 29.4 to 42 grams (g) of sugar — around 7–10 teaspoons (tsp), per Harvard’s Nutrition Source.
Sugar-free carbonated water is a good alternative to soda pop, and there are a slew of options on the market for those who crave a bubbly, sweet-tasting treat.
This is the latest eye-popping soda-related news to go viral after Arizona Tea released a Chocolate Egg Cream Soda flavor earlier in September.