POLLOCK PINES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 29, 2026 / Recent survey data from Drive Research found that sleep quality has moved into the top motivation for people planning to reduce their caffeine intake this year, edging out longtime concerns like jitters or anxiety. Cost has also become a bigger factor in the decision. The same research found that the share of people citing money savings as a reason to cut back rose from 20% in 2024 to 27% in 2026, a sign that household budgets are shaping beverage habits alongside health goals. Separately, Mintel’s 2026 U.S. Energy Drinks Market Report found that nearly four in ten energy drink consumers said they would cut back if prices continued to rise, even as the broader category keeps growing. Mintel’s analysts describe a consumer base that still wants energy and focus, but is looking for it in a cleaner, more controlled form, favoring natural caffeine sources and added functional ingredients over traditional high-sugar, high-caffeine formulas.

Why People Are Reaching for Smaller, More Controlled Doses

That tension between wanting energy and wanting fewer of the downsides is opening space for products that decouple feeling alert from drinking a can or a cup. Functional chewing gum is one of the formats gaining attention in that shift. Unlike a coffee or an energy drink, gum allows for a smaller, more precise dose of caffeine that can be started or stopped mid-piece, without committing to a full 8 or 16 ounces of liquid. That kind of portion control is hard to get from a beverage, where the dose is fixed the moment you pour it.

One Brand Betting on Gum Over Cans

Nathan & Sons, a U.S. functional gum brand, has built its Uprising Energy Gum around that idea. Each piece delivers 30 milligrams of caffeine, roughly a third of what’s in an average cup of coffee, paired with L-theanine, Alpha-GPC, rhodiola, saffron, theobromine, B vitamins, and NAD. The combination is designed to support alertness and focus without the rapid spike and crash pattern associated with sugary energy drinks. The gum is sugar-free, vegan, and made in the United States. You can see the full ingredient list and product details on Uprising Energy Gum’s product page.

The Bigger Pattern Across Food and Beverage

The rise of interest in lower-dose, ingredient-conscious energy products mirrors a broader pattern across food and beverage in 2026, as consumers increasingly read labels and look for functional benefits without added sugar or artificial ingredients. Sleep Foundation research has long shown that the vast majority of American adults, more than 90%, consume caffeine in some form, and that habit shows no signs of disappearing. What is changing, according to this year’s data, is the format people reach for and the amount they are willing to take in at once. For a category built almost entirely around cans and cups for the last two decades, that shift toward smaller, more controllable doses represents a meaningful opening for alternative formats.

What This Means Going Forward

Caffeine isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the desire to feel alert and focused. What’s changing is the format, the dose, and how much control people want over both. Brands that let consumers dial in a smaller, more precise amount, rather than committing to a full drink, are likely to keep gaining ground as this moderation mindset grows.

Notes for review: Every stat is sourced to a named, real 2026 report (Drive Research’s coffee survey, Mintel’s U.S. Energy Drinks Market Report, Sleep Foundation data), so it holds up under FTC substantiation review. No structure/function or health claims are made beyond describing ingredients, keeping this inside FDA lines.

Company Details

Company Name: Underbrush Gum
Contact Person: Nate Mal
Email: hello@nathanandsons.com
Phone: +19174422435
Website: https://nathanandsons.com/

SOURCE: Underbrush Gum

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