“It’s like a reward.” This phrase, originally from the movie Django Unchained, has become a popular TikTok sound, reflecting the mindset of many American Gen Zers seeking sweet treats amid challenges like climate change, housing instability, and the pandemic. Viral TikTok memes promoting indulgent treats like sweetened iced lattes may appear harmless, with financial experts like Douglas A. Boneparth stating, “If a $3 cup of coffee in the morning is the thing that gets you through the day… I don't think that's going to make or break your ability to achieve your financial goals.” However, while these drinks can offer temporary energy boosts, excessive sugar consumption over time ultimately hurts both finances and physical health.

The sweet treat epidemic reigns more serious than wholesome: on average, young American adults consume approximately 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day, surpassing 2-3 times the recommended daily allowance. Additionally, a 2023 American Diabetes Association study warns that the number of Americans under the age of 20 with type 2 diabetes could increase by nearly 673% by 2060 if current dietary trends continue, disproportionately affecting BIPOC communities. Conversely, the American Heart Association proposed the FDA’s recent mandate for added sugars labeling could prevent nearly 1 million cases of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes over the next two decades. Nevertheless, regulatory action is still necessary, especially for major coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts whose beverages often exceed recommended sugar limits.

Discussion about regulatory measures must address the historical biases in research and government negligence that have shaped the present landscape. For example, throughout the 1950s, Americans started experiencing early warning signs of coronary heart disease (CHD) as sucrose consumption rose; however, in 1965, the Sugar Research Foundation published a CHD research project under the New England Journal of Medicine, which downplayed the role of sucrose consumption as a risk factor for CHD and instead attributed CHD primarily to fat and cholesterol. This project shifted public perception of sugar from skepticism to support of sugar by the 1980s. Consequently, decreased attention to sugar overconsumption may explain the lack of federal taxes on sugary beverages, while existing state taxes focus more on liquid volume than sugar content.

In recent years, the FDA has taken more decisive action regarding obesity and CHD. In 2016, it mandated updated nutritional labels to reflect current scientific understanding, aiming to help consumers make informed food choices. Manufacturers with over $10 million in annual sales had to update their labels by January 2020, while smaller manufacturers received a 2021 deadline, only allowing annual exceptions for small businesses who applied for approval.

Despite these efforts to advance safety and accountability, there is still room for improvement. Many coffee chains provide nutritional labels for packaged products, but their freshly prepared beverages often lack clear, informative labeling. For instance, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts only display calorie counts in-store and publish nutritional information guides as bulky PDFs on their websites, making it cumbersome for consumers to read and make informed choices. These coffee chains operate in a gray area regarding the FDA’s regulations: while their websites and mobile apps partially comply with these policies, their in-store menus lack transparency.

Future policy revisions could potentially reference research from the University of Adelaide, which evaluated six sets of warning labels for beverages. Their findings indicated that “health-graphic,” “sugar-pictogram,” and “sugar-text” were the most effective in discouraging participants from beverage consumption.

While the sweet treat trend among American Gen Zers can provide temporary comfort, it poses significant health risks. Sugar overconsumption is linked to various issues, including diabetes and CHD. Therefore, policymakers must instate effective standards, beverage corporations should provide clearer nutritional labels and lower-sugar options, and consumers need to make healthier choices. Limiting sugary drinks to special occasions, customizing syrup amounts via mobile app requests, and adding healthier mix-ins like sugar-free syrup are a few examples of many proactive steps that consumers can take to stay informed and safe.