Food and Drink The ethics of get-it-yourself refills. - Page 2

**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.

displacedinMN · 10-10-2018, 06:31 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 is the crime

**Renegade** · 10-10-2018, 06:34 AM

Also why do I receive the smallest cup possible when I order water? My thirst is just as much as those drinking soda (or pop).

**loochy** · 10-10-2018, 06:34 AM

Always get a small. The actual material cost of soda is like $.05. Don't feel bad.
Posted via Mobile Device

**notorious** · 10-10-2018, 06:43 AM

Have any of you owned a business that serves soda?

It’s been 10 years since I have, and I can tell you it more than .05 material per drink.

I think our material cost with cup was around .50-.60 per 32oz soda. That’s what Pepsi charged.

Prefer coke though, but their service out here sucked.m

Beer is a huge profit item.

Prison Bitch · 10-10-2018, 06:52 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.

This^

patteeu · 10-10-2018, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

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.

This. How can this even be a question? As long as you're playing by the rules set by the restaurant, how can there be an ethical problem here? I'm shocked that there are people voting for other options.

If you need a crazy rationale for doing the right thing, you can feel good about generating a smaller amount of trash for the landfills if you buy the smaller cup instead of a giant cup you didn't really need.

Katipan · 10-10-2018, 07:13 AM

If this is a machine that has to dispense many flavors from one spout then the big cup is mandatory.

Otherwise you have to stand there letting the soda machine flush out whatever nasty Mtn. Dew Blast that the previous person used every single time you refill your tiny ass water cup.

Frosty · 10-10-2018, 07:13 AM

Soft drinks are too expensive in restaurants. I get a free water cup and just drink water during a meal. I can then swing by a mini mart and fill my own cup for under a dollar if I want pop.

Katipan · 10-10-2018, 07:16 AM

$3.00 for a large soda at BK.

The ****?

Fish · 10-10-2018, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

If this is a machine that has to dispense many flavors from one spout then the big cup is mandatory.

Otherwise you have to stand there letting the soda machine flush out whatever nasty Mtn. Dew Blast that the previous person used every single time you refill your tiny ass water cup.

Yeah, I hate that. I don't drink pop and every time I try and get a water from one of those, it's tainted with color from some nasty soda syrup.

Those things are giant petri dishes too. All those dirty hands pawing at the screen....

**wazu** · 10-10-2018, 07:22 AM

Definitely small. Think of it this way: If you only drink half a glass do you think they’re gonna give you half your money back?

Randallflagg · 10-10-2018, 07:29 AM

My Wife throws a fit if we go to say, Arby's, and I order anything but a small drink...she says "Damnit old man, you can cart your ass back up there and refill your cup"..

And she is right. The other thing that always kind of makes me a tad pissed off are these folks who stand at the fountain and fill their cups all the way up to the very top, drink a bit and fill it up over and over again. Geez folks, you CAN drink it and go back....

Katipan · 10-10-2018, 07:35 AM

This thread is fascinating.

Places like Arbys does a lot of volume on meal packages and when you upsize your curly fries, the drink comes with it.

If your wife has a problem with large orders of curly fries you may want to consider divorce.

DanT · 10-10-2018, 07:44 AM

i take into account how big a size i want to leave the restaurant with (on my last refill), so usually i get something bigger than a small.

Frosty · 10-10-2018, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanT

i take into account how big a size i want to leave the restaurant with (on my last refill), so usually i get something bigger than a small.

Exactly. Plus, there is normally only like a 30 cent difference between a large and small.

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: $3198491 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: 141,551

10-10-2018, 06:34 AM	#17
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $1647904	Also why do I receive the smallest cup possible when I order water? My thirst is just as much as those drinking soda (or pop).
Posts: 2,013

10-10-2018, 06:34 AM	#18
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $2020752	Always get a small. The actual material cost of soda is like $.05. Don't feel bad. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 40,534

10-10-2018, 06:43 AM	#19
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2805884	Have any of you owned a business that serves soda? It’s been 10 years since I have, and I can tell you it more than .05 material per drink. I think our material cost with cup was around .50-.60 per 32oz soda. That’s what Pepsi charged. Prefer coke though, but their service out here sucked.m Beer is a huge profit item.
Posts: 83,462

10-10-2018, 07:13 AM	#22
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2680351	If this is a machine that has to dispense many flavors from one spout then the big cup is mandatory. Otherwise you have to stand there letting the soda machine flush out whatever nasty Mtn. Dew Blast that the previous person used every single time you refill your tiny ass water cup. __________________ "Loving him is red."
Posts: 22,662

10-10-2018, 07:13 AM	#23
Frosty Go Beavers! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Warshington Casino cash: $5568243	Soft drinks are too expensive in restaurants. I get a free water cup and just drink water during a meal. I can then swing by a mini mart and fill my own cup for under a dollar if I want pop.
Posts: 14,501

10-10-2018, 07:16 AM	#24
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2680351	$3.00 for a large soda at BK. The ***? __________________ "Loving him is red."*
Posts: 22,662

10-10-2018, 07:22 AM	#26
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $2082295 VARSITY	Definitely small. Think of it this way: If you only drink half a glass do you think they’re gonna give you half your money back?
Posts: 27,836

10-10-2018, 07:29 AM	#27
Randallflagg MVP Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $9987156	My Wife throws a fit if we go to say, Arby's, and I order anything but a small drink...she says "Damnit old man, you can cart your ass back up there and refill your cup".. And she is right. The other thing that always kind of makes me a tad pissed off are these folks who stand at the fountain and fill their cups all the way up to the very top, drink a bit and fill it up over and over again. Geez folks, you CAN drink it and go back.... Last edited by Randallflagg; 10-10-2018 at 07:34 AM..
Posts: 9,578

10-10-2018, 07:35 AM	#28
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2680351	This thread is fascinating. Places like Arbys does a lot of volume on meal packages and when you upsize your curly fries, the drink comes with it. If your wife has a problem with large orders of curly fries you may want to consider divorce. __________________ "Loving him is red."
Posts: 22,662

10-10-2018, 07:44 AM	#29
DanT Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Davis, CA Casino cash: $4421711	i take into account how big a size i want to leave the restaurant with (on my last refill), so usually i get something bigger than a small.
Posts: 4,225	1 0