The two trends ruling Schoolies: LUCY MANLY goes inside Surfers Paradise and reveals how Gen-Z has hijacked a ‘daggy’ fashion item of the past – and what teenagers can’t get enough of: ‘I drank it at nan’s’

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School leavers do swarmed the Gold Coast for a week of partying – and there are two things that stood out as a toolie watching from the sidelines.

First of all, their drink of choice isn’t beer or liquor: it’s Hard Solo.

If you’re not familiar, Hard Solo is the new alcoholic counterpart to soft drink Solo, which was recently forced to change its name due to an outcry from blue-green independents who thought it was an advertisement for drinks aimed at children.

Second, they all carry Crocs – which first hit the market before these Schoolies were born in the early 2000s, but are now experiencing a resurgence.

As he left a bottle shop with a black and yellow slab of Hard Solo, 18-year-old Lucas told Ny Breaking Australia: “I just like the taste of it.”

‘I drank it [non-alcoholic Solo] as a kid at grandma’s house, so it reminds me of my childhood,” he added.

Lucas wasn’t the only Gen-Z partygoer who broke with teen tradition by swapping beer for the lemony alcho-pop drink.

“I usually drink beer when I’m at home, but it’s so sweet and easier to drink,” Sabian, also 18, said Wednesday evening.

Courtney (left, with her friends Jessica, center, and Skye, right) told Ny Breaking Australia that she prefers to wear Crocs because they are more comfortable than regular shoes

‘You don’t taste the alcohol. After a while you get sent sideways,” says Rhyce, 18.

The new alcoholic version of the iconic lemon-flavored soft drink has been at the center of a bizarre reaction.

Just days before 15,000 partygoers flooded the Surfers Paradise strip, it was announced that Hard Solo would be rebranded as ‘Hard Rated’ after just 10 complaints were made to the marketing regulator.

One complaint stated that the alcoholic drink was similar to Solo, which is “consumed by minors,” and could therefore cause confusion.

“It’s hard to imagine why they would think this is OK in 2023,” the complaint said.

Rhyce, Sabian, James and Will opened cans of Hard Solo along the Surfers Paradise strip

Gold Coast teen Alex (pictured) said of his Crocs: ‘They’re crazy comfortable, yeah’

Young men have started wearing Crocs, often paired with pulled up socks

Police have praised the behavior of teenagers attending school on the Gold Coast, noting there have been fewer arrests than in previous years

Once vilified for being ‘ugly’, Crocs are now the footwear of choice for Schoolies week

In Surfers Paradise’s central entertainment district, a BWS worker said the store was trying to keep up with demand for Hard Solo as thirsty teenagers came in every day asking for it.

“It’s been extremely popular; the records are flying out the door,” he said, adding. “We’re trying to keep up with demand.”

Another trend that is taking over Surfers Paradise Crocs.

This year’s Schoolies were babies back then Crocs have exploded in popularity, and the divisive shoes – once vilified for being “ugly” – are enjoying a resurgence among Gen-Z.

While walking along the party strip I lost count of the number of pairs I saw, and it was clear that these were the most popular shoes on the Gold Coast.

“They’re crazy comfortable, yeah,” teenager Alex told Ny Breaking Australia.

Two Schoolies wore matching outfits for their night out

Employees at the bottle shop said they were struggling to meet the demand for Hard Solo

High school graduates let their hair down during the first week of celebrations

Some college dropouts embraced grunge and nu-metal fashion, even though these trends disappeared before they were even born

Bikini tops were a popular fashion statement among teenage girls at night

‘Wearing Crocs are safer than wearing my sneakers – they would break,” said 18-year-old Courtney.

Another partygoer, Skye, said accessories for her Crocs was important, noting, “It’s all about the Jibbitz [shoe charms].’

Adored by Gen-Z and celebrities, Crocs have seen a sudden rise in popularity since 2018 after twenty years on the market.

A City Beach Australia store worker said teenagers were pouring in daily pair of Crocs.

“There is a huge demand for Crocs, especially from the boys, especially the pink ones,” she noted.

“As you can see, there isn’t much stock!”

Schoolchildren proudly wore their official event lanyard as they made their way onto the Surfers Paradise strip

Many teens accessorize their Crocs known as Jibbitz, but others (including the young woman on the right) prefer them unadorned

A week of partying on the Gold Coast is a time-honored tradition for school leavers

The two-week event is expected to be worth approximately $30 million to the local economy