Yeah, here in the US if you tell me a soda or water isn’t unlimited refills I’m probably not gonna come back. Soda is pennies to make a gallon (cup, lid and straw are about 15¢ per set) and typically charged around $2 depending on size. To charge me $2 for every 30¢ drink? Some here have said “you get a refill?” And the answer to that is usually yes if you get a Small combo meal. 16oz with ice (Especially when an upgraded meal costs $1.50 for medium or $3 for large). You get a Small combo meal and then refill the drink once, or twice (especially if you’re splitting with someone). And it’s really easy to see why smaller drinks become “more bang for your buck”.
Alcoholic beverages, lemonades, and other specialty drinks are normally by the cup/glass.
It’s nice, but it mostly just has to do with how cheap soda is here, which another poster here called out. The plastic cups at fast food restaurants cost the restaurant more than the soda inside them.
In fact, when we first traveled to Europe, the refill thing (along with not expecting ice) was one of the items the travel company called out to prepare us for the trip! Don’t know if they still do that as we plan our own travel now.
In the US virtually every drink has ice in it, unless it’s beer, liquor, wine, juice, or milk. Every soda, mixed drink, or water you get, the cup will be filled to the brim with ice. When the waiter refills your water, the pitcher will have ice so more falls into your glass. It’s just common and ubiquitous here for drink service.
The tip for our first travel was that in other countries, this wasn’t commonplace. In France, for example, ice didn’t come with your drink unless you specifically request it (at least the last time I went that was my experience) and even then it was a cube or two like they were rationing it. Now that I’m used to it, it is fine, I can go without ice, but I’m glad I knew before that first trip so it saved some awkward “typical ignorant American traveler” conversations.
Alright, this is so peculiar ! appreciate you explaining this. I never travelled across the atlantic but would love to, I like this kind of small differences between ultimately similar cultures
You’re welcome! You’re right that the little differences that separate our similar societies are fascinating to experience firsthand. I hope you get the opportunity to enjoy the same; it’s amazing to see what the world is like through other cultures.
Refills ? so you can refill your glass… and not pay for it ? that’s a new concept to me
Yeah, here in the US if you tell me a soda or water isn’t unlimited refills I’m probably not gonna come back. Soda is pennies to make a gallon (cup, lid and straw are about 15¢ per set) and typically charged around $2 depending on size. To charge me $2 for every 30¢ drink? Some here have said “you get a refill?” And the answer to that is usually yes if you get a Small combo meal. 16oz with ice (Especially when an upgraded meal costs $1.50 for medium or $3 for large). You get a Small combo meal and then refill the drink once, or twice (especially if you’re splitting with someone). And it’s really easy to see why smaller drinks become “more bang for your buck”.
Alcoholic beverages, lemonades, and other specialty drinks are normally by the cup/glass.
Yes, pretty common at restaurants in the US for free refills on soda and water. Juice and milk are usually per glass.
And anything hard is per glass
That’s pretty cool
It’s nice, but it mostly just has to do with how cheap soda is here, which another poster here called out. The plastic cups at fast food restaurants cost the restaurant more than the soda inside them.
In fact, when we first traveled to Europe, the refill thing (along with not expecting ice) was one of the items the travel company called out to prepare us for the trip! Don’t know if they still do that as we plan our own travel now.
Not expecting ice ? as in ?
In the US virtually every drink has ice in it, unless it’s beer, liquor, wine, juice, or milk. Every soda, mixed drink, or water you get, the cup will be filled to the brim with ice. When the waiter refills your water, the pitcher will have ice so more falls into your glass. It’s just common and ubiquitous here for drink service.
The tip for our first travel was that in other countries, this wasn’t commonplace. In France, for example, ice didn’t come with your drink unless you specifically request it (at least the last time I went that was my experience) and even then it was a cube or two like they were rationing it. Now that I’m used to it, it is fine, I can go without ice, but I’m glad I knew before that first trip so it saved some awkward “typical ignorant American traveler” conversations.
Alright, this is so peculiar ! appreciate you explaining this. I never travelled across the atlantic but would love to, I like this kind of small differences between ultimately similar cultures
You’re welcome! You’re right that the little differences that separate our similar societies are fascinating to experience firsthand. I hope you get the opportunity to enjoy the same; it’s amazing to see what the world is like through other cultures.