Since time immemorial, people have gotten drunk off weird stuff. Millennials had Four Loko. Gen Z—thanks to TikTok and the mechanics of accidental virality–has BuzzBallz.
Not surprisingly, these little orbs of intoxication— which contain 15% alcohol and come in sticky-sweet flavors like “Lime ‘Rita’” and “Pineapple Colada”— have become something of a meme on TikTok. As of this writing, the
#BuzzBallz hashtag has 14 million views on the app.
Despite their unsubtle name, BuzzBallz are perhaps the most socially responsible bargain-bin booze-beverage ever to exist. They’re recyclable, gluten-free, kosher, and contain real fruit juice. On top of that, they come in biodegradable plastic and are produced by a genuinely independent business—one that, the drink’s packaging cheerfully reminds you, was started by a woman.
Alcoholic novelty drinks have a way of expressing the unspoken values of whichever generation happens to be young and reckless at the moment and BuzzBallz may very wel...