Who wants a tongue-too?: 7-Eleven is gearing up for its 98th birthday celebration on July 11 (better known as 7/11 or Free Slurpee Day) with an added twist this year. The convenience-store giant will be offering four versions of temporary tongue tattoos, which it is calling “tongue-toos,” on the big day. “Simply enjoy a Slurpee drink, apply the tattoo on the tongue, and wait for the big reveal,” the company said in a press release. “Inspired by the signature color mark a Slurpee drink leaves behind on the tongue, tongue-toos are an homage to this colorful rite of passage every Slurpee drink connoisseur knows well.” The tattoos feature the brand’s signature “S” icon in blue, green, red or purple. We hope to see at least one 98-year-old celebrate the day with a tongue-too. – Heather Lalley
QSRs wage a beverage war—where do c-stores fit in?: If convenience stores want to own the beverage category, they’re going to have to keep an eye on innovations from quick-service restaurants and coffee shops. One new player to watch is Luckin Coffee, which on Monday opened its first two U.S. locations in New York City, CSP sister publicationRestaurant Business reported. The fast-growing Chinese coffee chain has opened more than 5,500 locations over the past year, and has more than 24,000 shops nationwide. Luckin’s business model is mostly focused on takeout and mobile order. How will it stand up to Starbucks, Dunkin’ and c-stores? Time will tell. It's not all about coffee though. On Monday, fast-food chain Whataburger introduced a new Refresher drink. And last week, Taco Bell released a line of Refrescas, Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze reported. The fast-food beverage wars have begun, and now it’s up to c-stores to figure out how they can compete. – Hannah Hammond
Gen Z's updated smoke break: The smokes-and-Cokes offers at gas stations may be dwindling, but have you heard of a "fridge cigarette?" Popularized on TikTok, the term is slang for Gen Z's answer to the smoke break: An ice-cold Diet Coke. A TikTok user named Rachel Reno posted a clip of herself cracking open a cold can of Diet Coke, calling the beverage a "crispy ciggy." The post has garnered over a thousand comments, with one user saying, "This is my new Camel crush." - Diane Adam
Kwik Trip gets cheeky: Last week, QuikTrip (the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based c-store chain that starts with a “Q”) posed an innocent-enough question on social media. “Which QuikTrip location is your favorite and why?” The post has since gotten about 200 likes and more than 1,000 comments on Facebook. But then La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip (with a "K") reposted the query to its Facebook page, with the response: “any that don’t start with a Q.” The saucy post unleashed a torrent of engagement on Facebook, with about 7,300 likes and more than 600 comments, including clapbacks like, “QuikTrip is like a Tinder date who brags about owning a Keurig. Kwik Trip is a stable marriage with someone who brews coffee at 4 a.m. and packs your lunch. In Wisconsin, we don’t cheat on Kwik Trip. That’s basically grounds for exile.” Better mind your Ks and Qs. – Heather Lalley
Hydration and romance: Liquid I.V. and a romance novel. To promote Orange Vanilla Dream, Liquid I.V.’s newest flavor in its Hydration Multiplier lineup, the company is rolling out its Thirstiest Summer Reads campaign, which it’s calling “a love letter to hydration, summer crushes and steamy romance books.” In partnership with The Ripped Bodice, a romance-only bookstore, customers can select a “thirsty” romance novel from the official Liquid I.V. x The Ripped Bodice Dreamy Summer Reads list from July 7 to Aug. 7 and their purchase (in-store in New York or Los Angeles or online) will come with a free Orange Vanilla Dream hydration sample. It’s “your perfect pairing for every plot twist and passionate kiss,” Liquid I.V. said. The new offering is inspired by the sweet, “citrusy flavors of childhood summers and endless sunshine,” Liquid I.V. said, and is “hydration that tastes like ice cream (without the melt.)” Liquid I.V. includes eight vitamins and nutrients. – Chuck Ulie
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