The bell rings, and the hallways swarm with teenagers. Some push through the crowd while others abandon friends to reach their coveted bounty. Frenzied students attempt to tear through the horde surrounding the vending machine before the golden opportunity is gone. Adrenaline rushes through veins once everyone has heard the news: Baja Blasts have been restocked.
Located next to the auditorium, Baja Blast Zero Sugar is a new addition to the vending machine drink lineup. In a crowd of Gatorade, Pepsi, Starry, and bottled water, the tropical-lime-flavored Mountain Dew beverage stands out.
While most of the other drinks remain in stock for long periods of time, the Baja Blasts are typically sold out within a couple of days or sometimes even hours. Students who are fans of the Baja Blast are aware of the high demand and make sure to stop by the vending machine as soon as possible when restocked, some even purchasing multiple at a time before they disappear for an unpredictable amount of time. Students are left disappointed when it sometimes takes weeks for them to return. They are only available in one machine, and the frequency of breakdowns seems to have increased. One must wonder whether this correlates with the jolt of abuse the machine faces as soon as the Baja Blast is spotted.
Senior Will Hayes is a fan of Baja Blasts and a regular vending machine customer. He has noticed the small proportion of Baja Blasts when compared to other drinks, especially those that are not as popular.
“I don’t really understand why they keep drinks like Starry in there since nobody buys them,” said Hayes. “They should stock more Baja Blasts or add them to [additional] vending machines. One time, a person in my class bought four Baja Blasts at the same time. People buy more than they need because [everyone] knows that they sell out so fast.”
The drink was originally created for Taco Bell restaurants but hit the shelves in January 2024 at stores nationwide due to its popularity. Many teenagers are fans of fast food and sugary drinks, so the zero sugar option at school doesn’t have as much of a negative health impact.
The Baja Blast isn’t just new and exciting; students truly find it delicious. Hayes compares the taste of the drink to the feeling of being on the beach during summer.
“It’s really refreshing, and the lime taste mixes well with the Mountain Dew,” said Hayes.
He has purchased both regular Baja Blasts and the zero sugar version and finds the original version a bit better.
“I feel like the zero sugar one tastes a little heavier; it’s refreshing but not as much as the [full sugar] version,” said Hayes.
Senior Hailey Parimore purchases her Baja Blasts at the gas station instead of the vending machine, knowing that our product is a bit more expensive and sells out very quickly. However, she has an idea of why the drink is so popular among students.
“I personally think people purchase [Baja Blasts] because it’s just something different from the usual products and a more interesting choice than something like [Pepsi],” said Parimore.
Having the same beverage choices every day can become monotonous. Since students are unable to leave the building during lunch, they cannot typically go out to get food or drink. Being able to taste a Baja Blast during school hours can be exciting for fast food fanatics who daydream about going to a drive-thru as soon as school is over. The next time you spot Baja Blasts in the vending machine, be sure to grab one before they’re gone.
