- Gen Alpha is being raised with health-first habits, from reduced sugar intake to mindful beverage choices.
- Sparkling water, kombucha, and functional drinks are replacing soda as the go-to refreshers for this generation.
Why Gen Alpha Might Skip Soda Entirely
For decades, soda was the ultimate beverage icon—colorful cans, endless commercials, and that sugary fizz nobody could resist. But for Generation Alpha, the kids born after 2010, soda may end up being more of a nostalgic relic than a household staple.
Parents are stocking fridges with alternatives like flavored sparkling water, kombucha, and electrolyte drinks. And it’s not just parental influence—Gen Alpha is growing up surrounded by apps, influencers, and brands that openly promote health-conscious choices. Sugary sodas, once normalized, are now framed as a treat best left for special occasions.
The New “Cool” Drinks
Gen Alpha isn’t rejecting fun—they’re just finding it in different bottles. Companies like LaCroix and Poppi have transformed carbonated drinks into playful, Instagram-friendly lifestyle products. With bright packaging and flavors like “Strawberry Lemon” or “Raspberry Rose,” these beverages are marketed as both fun and functional.
Meanwhile, health-driven Gen Z siblings are already modeling these habits. According to a report from Mintel, younger consumers are cutting back on traditional soda in favor of drinks with probiotics, vitamins, or natural sweeteners. Gen Alpha is watching, learning, and adopting these shifts even earlier.
Culture Shift in Every Sip
There’s also a cultural layer at play. Soda was once the drink of choice for birthdays, drive-ins, and sports games. Today, those same moments might be filled with colorful cans of zero-sugar seltzer or even functional waters that promise focus or calm.
This doesn’t mean soda will vanish entirely—it still holds a strong place in fast-food culture and nostalgic branding. But if you’re looking at the long game, soda might be losing its grip on the next generation. To Gen Alpha, choosing a probiotic soda over a can of cola isn’t about sacrifice—it’s simply what’s normal.
The Bottom Line
Gen Alpha’s shift away from soda reflects a broader cultural trend: food and drinks are expected to do more than taste good. They need to align with health, wellness, and even social image. As this generation grows up, soda may not be the default refreshment anymore—it could be just another item in the “retro snacks” category, alongside candy cigarettes and Jell-O molds.
Jacklyn is a San Diego–based food journalist with a background in the confectionery world. Before diving into food reporting, she worked at a startup crafting plant-based, low-sugar sweets designed to make candy a little healthier
