A new TikTok trend has sparked debate across the US, and experts are already sounding the alarm.
The craze centres on something called 'heavy soda', a drink option being spotted at petrol stations and convenience stores - something people say is mainly a 'Missouri thing', but is spreading rapidly through social media .
The custom option has been highlighted on various platforms, including Reddit, where users reported seeing labels such as 'Heavy Pepsi' at self-serve fountains.
One commenter claimed: “For everyone asking, Heavy Pepsi is a Missouri thing,” while another described trying a 'heavy' Mountain Dew, adding: “It’s way better than it should be.”
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Others suggested the practice has existed for years, particularly for people who grab large sodas in the morning.
As to what heavy soda is, in simple terms, 'heavy' on a soda machine means the drink is poured with a higher syrup-to-water ratio than usual. The result is a far sweeter, more concentrated version of soft drink staples like Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew.
The logic is that as ice melts over the course of the day, the drink ends up tasting normal instead of diluted.
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Videos of heavy soda have since gone viral on TikTok, with reviewers weighing in on the extra-sweet servings. While some users see it as a fun discovery, professionals in the health field aren’t convinced.
However, health experts have a few concerns about the heavy soda trend. Dr. Jeremy Manuele, a Las Vegas orthodontist, told Fox News Digital that while the extra syrup makes the soda feel 'like even more of a little treat,' that sugar increases the risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and enamel erosion, which is the breakdown of your teeth’s protective layers.
Manuele explained further: “Some of the same bacteria linked to gum disease have also been connected to heart disease and other health issues”.
“It seems we are always trying to find new ways to make getting our soda fix exciting. It might appear fun and innocent in the moment, but if it sticks around, it could lead to health issues that people are not thinking about yet."
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The warning comes at a time when soft drink culture is already expanding in new directions. Chains such as McDonald’s have been trialling so-called 'dirty sodas' - fizzy bases mixed with flavoured syrups or cream, a phenomenon the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives helped proliferate.
Meanwhile, Crumbl Cookies has tested its own line of fizzy concoctions across the US and Canada. These drinks, often marketed towards younger consumers and those avoiding alcohol, tap into the same appetite for novelty that heavy soda is now feeding.
For now, heavy soda remains a regional quirk that has found sudden fame online. But with health professionals cautioning about its long-term risks, the hype could be short-lived. The sugary twist may make for viral content, yet experts stress it’s a trend worth thinking twice about before filling your cup.
Ben Williams