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.

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.

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....

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.

CoMoChief · 10-10-2018, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

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

I was jk

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.

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.

**luv** · 10-10-2018, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

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

Yep. That's the life of a Dr. Pepper drinker.

carcosa · 10-10-2018, 12:04 AM

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

Simply Red · 10-10-2018, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carcosa

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

I could drink 30 gallons of Baha Blast and return-jizz 30 gallons in jizz.

**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.....

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	Topic Starter
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3238491 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: 141,518

10-09-2018, 11:56 PM	#2
kysirsoze SNAP THE ****ING BALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $3676946	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: 11,299

10-10-2018, 07:13 AM	#4
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2720351	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: 22,641

10-09-2018, 11:58 PM	#6
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: 39,160	0 1

10-10-2018, 12:04 AM	#12
carcosa Thank you Join Date: May 2014 Casino cash: $2743695	Order the small every damn time. Screw the man!!!!
Posts: 22,852

10-10-2018, 12:18 AM	#14
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	#15
Fat Elvis Sexiest Athlete Join Date: Apr 2001 Casino cash: $1421925	A Small cup is the same as a large with just a bit more walking.....
Posts: 12,398