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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 :D

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

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.

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.

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

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