Food and Drink The ethics of get-it-yourself refills. - Page 7

**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.

**Baby Lee** · 10-10-2018, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

You probably say patato, too.

FAX

On that front, I naturally follow the sage guidance of Mr. FireMeBoy! scrupulously.

**Buehler445** · 10-10-2018, 04:03 PM

Freaking Chipotle. That's the only asshole place I'm boycotting.

**Baby Lee** · 10-10-2018, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Freaking Chipotle. That's the only asshole place I'm boycotting.

Careful, gotta keep your asshole options open!!

T-post Tom · 10-10-2018, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

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

I'm a bad man. Bad person all around. I will steal candy from a baby and/or small child.

**Bugeater** · 10-10-2018, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

That would have been magical. I never got free sodas anywhere. At the Sirloin Stockade we could get free lemonade or punch while working, which was tasty, but no sodas. I'm not sure, but I think we got also free meals on our breaks, which was a huge perk for a kid with no money. If they weren't free they were very highly discounted.

The Dairy Queen made us pay for our meals at either full price or close to it, and they paid about half of the minimum wage due to some weird loophole. It was my only option since I was under 16. There were some shifts where I basically just worked for a meal since I had a teenage appetite.

It's pretty weak for any restaurant to not give some kind of significant discount on food for employees. I worked at a high end steakhouse when I was in my teens and they had a food program where for just under $2 each shift you could get a meal (only certain ones though, burger and fries, fish sandwich, lasagne etc. No steak or prime rib of course) and all the pop you could possibly consume. Only a fool wouldn't take them up on that deal.

patteeu · 10-10-2018, 05:50 PM

At Pizza Inn we were allowed to make a free personal pizza for ourselves each shift. As a poor college student, that was the best part of working there. Drinks must have been free too, but I don't remember specifically.

**wazu** · 10-10-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

At Pizza Inn we were allowed to make a free personal pizza for ourselves each shift. As a poor college student, that was the best part of working there. Drinks must have been free too, but I don't remember specifically.

Thought I remembered that as well. It was a good place. I abused the free soda policy so much my boss once told me I was going to make a great alcoholic cause he never saw me without a drink in my hand.

FlaChief58 · 10-10-2018, 06:30 PM

That glass of soda costs them about a penny. They'll be fine

Mr. Plow · 10-10-2018, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

McDonalds kinda flips this argument on its head though. They charge the same $1 price regardless of which size you get.

This messes me up more than anything. I don't really need or want a large, but if I'm paying the same price why not. They are making their money regardless.

**Rain Man** · 10-10-2018, 06:53 PM

I had no idea that McDonald's did that. I wonder if that affects the sizes that people order.

Graystoke · 10-10-2018, 07:00 PM

Soda kills

Says the guy who smokes

CoMoChief · 10-10-2018, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graystoke

Soda kills

Says the guy who smokes

I would say both are probably equally as harmful.

Cigarettes that is...

**fan4ever** · 10-10-2018, 07:22 PM

This is a tad off topic...but anyone ever upsize an order at Carls Jr? Here in Phoenix, I went through the drive thru...ordered 3 meals and they asked me if I wanted to "upsize" my order...larger drink/fries...I said sure. When I got to the window they charged me an extra $12.00 dollars...$4.00 per meal for slightly larger order of fries and drinks! I told the chick that was outrageous and she had that look like she'd heard that response more than once. I have driven off but had people waiting on me to return with food. I'll be eating inside from now one and getting that "water" cup T-Post Tom is talking about...will take me years to get even.

Katipan · 10-10-2018, 07:37 PM

Carl's Jr. Is for rich people. Deal with it.

Randallflagg · 10-10-2018, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

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

I’ve been drinking diet cola drinks for the last 30-35 years. I’m 71. I made it through Vietnam Nam as an Infantryman (11B) with only minor injuries.

SOMETHING will take us all out. Might as well go out enjoying what you do, right?

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: $3298491 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: 141,448

10-10-2018, 04:03 PM	#92
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $2294734	Freaking Chipotle. That's the only asshole place I'm boycotting.
Posts: 56,790

10-10-2018, 05:50 PM	#96
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $10019237	At Pizza Inn we were allowed to make a free personal pizza for ourselves each shift. As a poor college student, that was the best part of working there. Drinks must have been free too, but I don't remember specifically. __________________ “Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it.” - Lindsay Graham
Posts: 110,871

10-10-2018, 06:30 PM	#98
FlaChief58 SuperChiefs Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Casino cash: $2239822	That glass of soda costs them about a penny. They'll be fine
Posts: 18,959

10-10-2018, 06:53 PM	#100
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3298491 VARSITY	I had no idea that McDonald's did that. I wonder if that affects the sizes that people order. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,448

10-10-2018, 07:00 PM	#101
Graystoke MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Driftless Region Casino cash: $905564	Soda kills Says the guy who smokes
Posts: 8,706

10-10-2018, 07:22 PM	#103
fan4ever Supporter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $5824389	This is a tad off topic...but anyone ever upsize an order at Carls Jr? Here in Phoenix, I went through the drive thru...ordered 3 meals and they asked me if I wanted to "upsize" my order...larger drink/fries...I said sure. When I got to the window they charged me an extra $12.00 dollars...$4.00 per meal for slightly larger order of fries and drinks! I told the chick that was outrageous and she had that look like she'd heard that response more than once. I have driven off but had people waiting on me to return with food. I'll be eating inside from now one and getting that "water" cup T-Post Tom is talking about...will take me years to get even. __________________ "You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks" - Winston Churchill
Posts: 9,335

10-10-2018, 07:37 PM	#104
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2740351	Carl's Jr. Is for rich people. Deal with it. __________________ "Loving him is red."
Posts: 22,634