The mid-afternoon cigarette break has taken a new form for Gen Z with a sweet, bubbly twist.

Videos about "fridge cigarettes" have garnered hundreds of thousands of likes on TikTok this summer as scores of young adults have raved about the pick-me-up.

"Time for my afternoon fridge cigarette," another said of the same soda brand.

A third video caption reads, "Fridge cigarette after a long day."

What's the appeal behind the TikTok trend?

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist based in New York City, said the trend works because Diet Coke can act as an "emotional stand-in."

"It becomes a way [for people] to pause, reset or reward themselves," the expert told Fox News Digital.

"[It's] a small ritual that offers structure or comfort in the middle of a hectic day. It can be grounding for some people."

Opening up the fridge for a soda is a "small ritual that offers structure or comfort in the middle of a hectic day." iStock

The psychology expert also noted that cracking open an ice-cold Diet Coke is a sensory experience, much like smoking.

"The crisp sound, the carbonation and the cold hit all offer a quick, reliable burst of stimulation or relief, especially during stressful or transitional moments in the day," Alpert said.

"When Diet Coke becomes a daily emotional crutch, it can reinforce dependency patterns, particularly if it is being used to manage anxiety, suppress appetite or avoid discomfort," he shared.

Carbonation from the soda, in addition to other factors, offers "a quick, reliable burst of stimulation or relief," according to a psychotherapist. iStock

Fox News Digital reached out to the Coca-Cola Co. for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Debra Muth, a naturopathic doctor (ND) based in Wisconsin, echoed Alpert's concerns.

The trend is "really trading one bad habit for another," said the medical expert.

"The Diet Coke break works because of the ritual itself of stepping away and having something in your hands. That pause triggers stress relief," Muth told Fox News Digital.

"But here's what people don't realize: Your brain isn't asking for aspartame or nicotine. It's asking for dopamine. That artificial sweetener crosses your blood-brain barrier and actually makes the neurotransmitter depletion worse. You're literally borrowing from tomorrow's brain chemistry."

"Both nicotine and Diet Coke hijack your dopamine pathways," the family physician said.

"Your brain gets the same temporary 'reward' hit, but it's a false sense of satisfaction."

Instead, she said, it's better to "give your brain what it actually needs, such as amino acids like L-tyrosine for natural dopamine production, balanced blood sugar and real stress management that restores your brain's reward system."