Why Diet Coke Is the Latest Gen Z Lifestyle Trend

Fast Summary

• Fridge Cigarette Trend explained: A Gen Z TikTok trend where the act of grabbing and opening a cold diet coke from the fridge serves as a relaxing ritual akin to a “modern smoke break,” but without cigarettes.
• Origin: the term “fridge cigarette” was popularized by TikTok creator @reallyrachelreno in June 2025, whose video comparing opening Diet Coke to lighting a cigarette garnered nearly 4 million views.
• Viral Appeal: Users post videos with captions like “Time for my afternoon fridge cigarette,” framing it as a grounding pause or stress-relief moment. These clips attract thousands of likes.
• Diet Coke Specifics: On TikTok, varieties of Coca-Cola are likened humorously to cigarette brands based on their taste profile; Diet Coke delivers fizz, caffeine, and calorie-free dopamine effects, aligning with its role in this ritual.
• Health Aspect: While seen as healthier than smoking,experts caution against reliance on soda for stress relief and recommend balanced diets or natural dopamine boosts rather.

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