The afternoon cigarette break is getting a makeover among Gen Z—but instead of lighting up, young adults are cracking open a chilled can of Diet Coke.This summer, TikTok has exploded with videos celebrating what users are calling the “fridge cigarette.” The term doesn’t involve tobacco or nicotine, but a cold can of diet soda—most often Diet Coke—that serves as a ritualistic pick-me-up for 20-somethings navigating workdays and stress.The videos are everywhere. One TikTok simply says, “Just a little something to take the edge off,” with a Diet Coke in hand. Another reads, “Time for my afternoon fridge cigarette.” A third sums up the vibe perfectly: “Fridge cigarette after a long day.”So what’s behind the obsession?A Ritual That Feels GoodPsychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, based in New York City, says the appeal is less about the drink and more about the ritual. He told Fox News Digital that Diet Coke is acting as an “emotional stand-in”—a way for young adults to pause, reset, and reward themselves in the middle of a hectic day.“It’s a small ritual that offers structure or comfort,” Alpert said. “Opening the fridge, hearing the can crack open, feeling the chill—it’s sensory. Much like smoking, it gives people a quick burst of stimulation or relief.”In stressful or in-between moments, this small act becomes a grounding habit. And in many ways, choosing soda over cigarettes is a healthier swap. But experts caution that it’s not entirely harmless.Trading One Crutch for Another?Alpert warns that turning to Diet Coke daily for emotional regulation could reinforce dependency—especially if it’s being used to manage anxiety, suppress appetite, or avoid stress.Wisconsin-based naturopathic doctor Debra Muth echoed his concerns. “This is really just trading one bad habit for another,” she said.Muth explained that the appeal isn’t the soda or even the sweetness—it’s dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical. “Your brain isn’t asking for aspartame or nicotine. It’s asking for dopamine,” she said. “Artificial sweeteners like aspartame cross the blood-brain barrier and can actually make neurotransmitter depletion worse. You’re borrowing from tomorrow’s brain chemistry.”A False Sense of RewardWhat worries Muth most is that both nicotine and Diet Coke hijack the brain’s reward pathways. “You get the same temporary ‘hit’ of satisfaction, but it’s false. It doesn’t actually solve the emotional or mental need,” she explained.And while the Diet Coke break might offer a moment of calm, it’s not something Muth would recommend for smokers trying to quit either. “You’re still reinforcing the same pattern—reaching for a quick fix instead of addressing what your brain and body truly need.”Instead, she recommends more sustainable ways to support the brain’s natural dopamine system: “Amino acids like L-tyrosine, balanced blood sugar, and proper stress management can go a long way in restoring your brain’s reward circuit.”The “fridge cigarette” may be fizzy, fun, and TikTok-famous—but experts say it's best to be mindful of why you’re reaching for that cold can. Rituals are comforting, but when they become emotional crutches, they can quietly build unhealthy habits over time.A chilled Diet Coke now and then isn’t the enemy—but relying on it to “take the edge off” every day might be something worth pausing to think about.