FLORENCE, Ky. — There’s a new trend brewing among Generation Z as more young adults are choosing to drink less alcohol and explore alternative refreshments.

What You Need To Know

  • Dirty soda is a carbonated drink, with creamer and flavored syrups

  • It was first popularized in Utah, before gaining attention from social media

  • The drink has been popularized by Generation Z, who is drinking 20% less than millennials

  • Drinkology is the first dirty soda shop in Kentucky

As ice tumbles into the cup, followed by the sweet hiss and crackle of the soda, and then one more special ingredient is added. Owner of Drinkology Robin Farney says it isn’t just her favorite to make but also to drink.

As she prepared her customer order, she said, “The Peach Perfect, which is Dr. Pepper, peach and coconut cream.”

Dirty soda is your typical carbonated beverage like Dr. Pepper, Coke or Sprite, that is spiked with cream and flavored syrups.

Farney opened Drinkology just three months ago, after trying dirty soda for the first time in Utah at a popular franchise called Swig.

“I tried dirty soda for the first time when I was out west last year. It’s really popular in like Utah, California, Arizona,” she explained.

The drink grew in popularity via social media, and was warmly welcomed by Generation Z who, according to a World Finance report, says that Gen Zers drink on average 20% less than millennials, who also drink less than older generations. 

Farney says they get a lot of people coming in looking for alternative drinks.

“We have a lot of people that come like our later hours and get some things that are just like getting a treat to go home at night instead of probably going home and having like an alcoholic drink or something,” she said.

Why are generation Z turning away from alcohol? The Director of Brighton Recovery Center For Women, Jane Hamilton, says it has a lot to do with breaking generational patterns.

“I’ve watched mom and dad go through what I’ve watched grandma and grandpa go do it. We all know grandparents are now raising grandchildren because of, you know, the epidemic with opiates specifically, but any kind of addiction. So, I think there’s a little bit of a shift, and I don’t want to continue this pattern.”

Farney agreed, saying it’s a nice treat for people pursing sober living.

“I think this is a fun treat for people that don’t want to do alcohol or just don’t want alcohol that day or anything like that,” she said.

Whether it’s for health or a desire to try something new, this trend shows that enjoying a drink doesn’t always have to include a spirit.

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