Food and Drink The ethics of get-it-yourself refills.

**Rain Man** · 11:57 PM

I was in a restaurant tonight, and it had a system in place that I like. They set the soda machine out in the dining room, and you can just go get your own refill. Getting my own soda refill is one of my key selection criteria for restaurants these days.

However, I have a conundrum. When I order a soda, I'm usually asked if I want a small, medium, or large.

Now, think about that for a moment. It's free refills with no shame. I don't have to ask someone for my refills, I just go get them.

So the logical approach here is to always order a small drink, right? Maybe I have to get up sooner to get my refill, but big deal. It burns calories to walk over there.

But at the same time, I feel guilty ordering a small soda if I'm already figuring that I'll get a refill. Essentially, I'm getting a large soda for the price of a small. Is this ethical? If I know that I want more than the XX ounces in a small size, should I order the size that closest approximates my need? Or should I look out for my own self-interest and always order the smallest size at the lowest cost?

Poll coming. You can get up and vote on it yourself.

**kysirsoze** · 10-09-2018, 11:56 PM

Order the damn small. The mark up on soda is criminal. If your strategy was a problem they wouldn't offer free refills. All the soda you can drink will end up costing them like 7 cents.

CoMoChief · 10-09-2018, 11:58 PM

Do you scowl at people at gas stations who take sips out of their fountain drinks only to top it off again right in front of you?

HEY THEY DIDNT PAY FOR THAT!

DOES THAT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL LIKE IT DOES MINE!?!??!?

Simply Red · 10-10-2018, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Do you scowl at people at gas stations who take sips out of their fountain drinks only to top it off again right in front of you?

HEY THEY DIDNT PAY FOR THAT!

DOES THAT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL LIKE IT DOES MINE!?!??!?

Got dude - you're going to die of a heart attack if you let shit like that bother you.

carcosa · 10-10-2018, 12:04 AM

Order the small every damn time. Screw the man!!!!

**Baby Lee** · 10-10-2018, 12:18 AM

An in-store soda with free refills is not an isolated transaction.
Regardless of the size of cup and the thirst of the customer, the cup itself costs more than the soda that will be consumed.
Soda is an invitation to add revenue to your meal purchase.
Only reason to buy anything other than a small is if it's included in a value meal, or if you are carrying out.

Fat Elvis · 10-10-2018, 12:43 AM

A Small cup is the same as a large with just a bit more walking.....

**ptlyon** · 10-10-2018, 12:56 AM

The whole problem with this thread is that it is called pop and not soda

**Gadzooks** · 10-10-2018, 01:23 AM

Don't drink soft drinks. They're bad for you.

Nickhead · 10-10-2018, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I was in a restaurant tonight, and it had a system in place that I like. They set the soda machine out in the dining room, and you can just go get your own refill. Getting my own soda refill is one of my key selection criteria for restaurants these days.

However, I have a conundrum. When I order a soda, I'm usually asked if I want a small, medium, or large.

Now, think about that for a moment. It's free refills with no shame. I don't have to ask someone for my refills, I just go get them.

So the logical approach here is to always order a small drink, right? Maybe I have to get up sooner to get my refill, but big deal. It burns calories to walk over there.

But at the same time, I feel guilty ordering a small soda if I'm already figuring that I'll get a refill. Essentially, I'm getting a large soda for the price of a small. Is this ethical? If I know that I want more than the XX ounces in a small size, should I order the size that closest approximates my need? Or should I look out for my own self-interest and always order the smallest size at the lowest cost?

Poll coming. You can get up and vote on it yourself.

did you know, there are no 'self serve' fountain drinks in australia to my knowledge. the only thing you can serve yourself is straws, napkins, and salt

Nickhead · 10-10-2018, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

The whole problem with this thread is that it is called pop and not soda

i almost gave you my first neg rep ever. but i thought that would have been too harsh.

T-post Tom · 10-10-2018, 02:10 AM

I order a "water cup" at no charge and then get soda/pop when nobody is looking. Sprite is ideal...especially if it's a little flat. If anyone snitches, they get stitches.

TambaBerry · 10-10-2018, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Do you scowl at people at gas stations who take sips out of their fountain drinks only to top it off again right in front of you?

HEY THEY DIDNT PAY FOR THAT!

DOES THAT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL LIKE IT DOES MINE!?!??!?

if you dont sip it, you're setting yourself up to get a bad drink and pay for it and get all the way out to your car before you realize the syrup was out or something along those lines.

InChiefsHeaven · 10-10-2018, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

I order a "water cup" at no charge and then get soda/pop when nobody is looking. Sprite is ideal...especially if it's a little flat. If anyone snitches, they get stitches.

That I would say is wrong. In RainMan's case, he's doing exactly what the restaurant allows. In your case, it's stealing.

Mile High Mania · 10-10-2018, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TambaBerry

if you dont sip it, you're setting yourself up to get a bad drink and pay for it and get all the way out to your car before you realize the syrup was out or something along those lines.

All this... esp if you're a Dr Pepper fan, the mix is off at least 15% of the time in my experience.

View Poll Results: What is the ethical approach to ordering soft drinks in a self-refill environment?
Always order the smallest size. It's the logical best value and the restaurant knows what it's doing.	65	67.71%
Order a medium soda with expectations of getting a refill. It's the compromise that is most fair to both parties in combination.	19	19.79%
Order a size that approximates your expected need, even if it means paying more for a large.	5	5.21%
Don't order a soda in a self-refill environment. It's too fraught with ethical minefields.	2	2.08%
I would need to take a college philosophy course before I can answer this.	5	5.21%
Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll

10-09-2018, 11:52 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3398491 VARSITY	The ethics of get-it-yourself refills. I was in a restaurant tonight, and it had a system in place that I like. They set the soda machine out in the dining room, and you can just go get your own refill. Getting my own soda refill is one of my key selection criteria for restaurants these days. However, I have a conundrum. When I order a soda, I'm usually asked if I want a small, medium, or large. Now, think about that for a moment. It's free refills with no shame. I don't have to ask someone for my refills, I just go get them. So the logical approach here is to always order a small drink, right? Maybe I have to get up sooner to get my refill, but big deal. It burns calories to walk over there. But at the same time, I feel guilty ordering a small soda if I'm already figuring that I'll get a refill. Essentially, I'm getting a large soda for the price of a small. Is this ethical? If I know that I want more than the XX ounces in a small size, should I order the size that closest approximates my need? Or should I look out for my own self-interest and always order the smallest size at the lowest cost? Poll coming. You can get up and vote on it yourself. Last edited by Rain Man; 10-09-2018 at 11:57 PM..
Posts: 141,214

10-09-2018, 11:56 PM	#2
kysirsoze SNAP THE ****ING BALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $3836946	Order the damn small. The mark up on soda is criminal. If your strategy was a problem they wouldn't offer free refills. All the soda you can drink will end up costing them like 7 cents.
Posts: 11,280

10-09-2018, 11:58 PM	#3
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8052254	Do you scowl at people at gas stations who take sips out of their fountain drinks only to top it off again right in front of you? HEY THEY DIDNT PAY FOR THAT! DOES THAT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL LIKE IT DOES MINE!?!??!? __________________
Posts: 39,155	0 1

10-10-2018, 12:04 AM	#5
carcosa Thank you Join Date: May 2014 Casino cash: $2903695	Order the small every damn time. Screw the man!!!!
Posts: 22,796

10-10-2018, 12:18 AM	#6
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6838598	An in-store soda with free refills is not an isolated transaction. Regardless of the size of cup and the thirst of the customer, the cup itself costs more than the soda that will be consumed. Soda is an invitation to add revenue to your meal purchase. Only reason to buy anything other than a small is if it's included in a value meal, or if you are carrying out.
Posts: 95,642

10-10-2018, 12:43 AM	#7
Fat Elvis Sexiest Athlete Join Date: Apr 2001 Casino cash: $1581925	A Small cup is the same as a large with just a bit more walking.....
Posts: 12,384

10-10-2018, 12:56 AM	#8
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $13163829	The whole problem with this thread is that it is called pop and not soda __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 33,468

10-10-2018, 01:23 AM	#9
Gadzooks MFIC Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tromsø, Norway Casino cash: $3899219	Don't drink soft drinks. They're bad for you.
Posts: 7,768

10-10-2018, 02:10 AM	#12
T-post Tom Threepeat! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $4617293	I order a "water cup" at no charge and then get soda/pop when nobody is looking. Sprite is ideal...especially if it's a little flat. If anyone snitches, they get stitches. __________________ You seem nice!
Posts: 20,191	2 2