Are water cups really that small?

[SandrA9810]

Tonight we went to McD's to have dinner, and a friend met us there. He asked for water with his meal, and they gave him an itty bitty ice cream cup, not even the child's small drink. He looked at it and said "would you like some water with that straw?"

What is with this trend?? What is wrong with giving some one an actual cup to drink out of?

When I worked at Qdoba, we were to give the child's size cup, but if they asked, they could have a medium cup.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Most fast food don't use the regular cups when they have self serve fountains because it results in free soda as they aren't going to remember who paid and who did not.

Perhaps they were just out of the cups they usually use?

 

[Magic Mom]

Tonight we went to McD's to have dinner, and a friend met us there. He asked for water with his meal, and they gave him an itty bitty ice cream cup, not even the child's small drink. He looked at it and said "would you like some water with that straw?"

What is with this trend?? What is wrong with giving some one an actual cup to drink out of?
When I worked at Qdoba, we were to give the child's size cup, but if they asked, they could have a medium cup.

Because it cost money? If someone wants a full size cup, they could always pay for it.

 

[Jennasis]

Because it cost money? If someone wants a full size cup, they could always pay for it.

Yup yup. Nothing to stop someone from using the water cup for soda.

 

[Hannathy]

because the cup is what costs the money for the restaurant. They also don't want you drinking free water in the big scheme of things they want you to BUY something to drink.

 

[SandrA9810]

Even going through drive through, they give you tiny cups. And it's not like people are going to swing around for a refill.

They still make clear cup in larger sizes. If they want to watch what customers are putting into their cups.

 

[southern_redhead]

Did he want water because he doesn't want to drink Cokes or did he want water because he didn't want to pay for a drink? The reason I ask is that if it was just to avoid Cokes then I would simply buy one of the bottled waters they sell. Yes, they are overpriced BUT you get 20 oz and what he is getting from the self serve is probably tap which isn't that great for you anyway.

 

[Hannathy]

then I would simply buy one of the bottled waters they sell. Yes, they are overpriced BUT you get 20 oz and what he is getting from the self serve is probably tap which isn't that great for you anyway.

Why in the world isn't tap water good for you?

And by the way bottled water is tap water.

 

[manning]

Many bottled water comes out of a tap. Well known dirty secret of the trade.

 

[SandrA9810]

Did he want water because he doesn't want to drink Cokes or did he want water because he didn't want to pay for a drink? The reason I ask is that if it was just to avoid Cokes then I would simply buy one of the bottled waters they sell. Yes, they are overpriced BUT you get 20 oz and what he is getting from the self serve is probably tap which isn't that great for you anyway.

He just wanted to drink water with his meal. It's like he's got to stand at the drink machine, take a bite of food, drink the cup and refill. It literally was that tiny, enough for like 2 gulps at most.

And tap water goes through more testing and cleaning than bottled. Bottled water is not regulated the same way tap water is. People jump on the bottled water bandwagon, because of it's consistent taste. Which it does have, because it's all bottled at the same facility. Tap water on the other hand comes mostly from the water directly below you. So it's going to taste different in different areas. And people don't like the "funny" taste. People who live in Orlando are fine with the tap, it took me a couple of years but it didn't bother me after that. But people who visit thinks it's the most horrible ever. They're just not used to it.

 

[allison443]

He just wanted to drink water with his meal. It's like he's got to stand at the drink machine, take a bite of food, drink the cup and refill. It literally was that tiny, enough for like 2 gulps at most.

And tap water goes through more testing and cleaning than bottled. Bottled water is not regulated the same way tap water is. People jump on the bottled water bandwagon, because of it's consistent taste. Which it does have, because it's all bottled at the same facility. Tap water on the other hand comes mostly from the water directly below you. So it's going to taste different in different areas. And people don't like the "funny" taste. People who live in Orlando are fine with the tap, it took me a couple of years but it didn't bother me after that. But people who visit thinks it's the most horrible ever. They're just not used to it.

Why didn't he buy a bottled water? Doesn't McDonald's sell that?

 

[FireDancer]

Like others have stated they give you a different cup so they know you are just getting water. Sadly, if they gave the same cup to people just drinking water as they do for people paying for fountain drinks a lot of people would be dishonest and just fill them with something other than water.

I just bring one of my travel mugs in when I go anyplace like Panera or Subway and fill that with water out of the machine. No way in heck I am paying for a bottled water when the tap stuff is just as good and free. If I wanted anything other than the free water of course I wouldn't do that, I'd pay for it.

 

[Magic Mom]

He just wanted to drink water with his meal. It's like he's got to stand at the drink machine, take a bite of food, drink the cup and refill. It literally was that tiny, enough for like 2 gulps at most.

He could have paid for a large soda but drank water instead.

 

[SandrA9810]

It just seems as more and more people hop on the trend of drinking tap water, they more resistant they become.

Pretty much all fountain soda is made with tap water, it's double filtered and then carbonated. Syrup bags and hoses are run to the machine and mixed as it comes out. Usually the taste and sugar/HFCS over power the taste of the tap water, so most people don't seem to get that. Although I can taste the water used in Dallas, even in soda.

But it's like you used to get a small cup, then it went to a kiddie cup, now it's down to itty bitty cups like you would use in the bathroom for rinsing your mouth. I can see wanting to use a clear cup, but at the same time, do they have to keep getting smaller?

Although I wish they'd give me that size for the sweet tea... that's my weakness... a large is just too much.

 

[bicker]

I think the solution to this quandary is to start charging regular soda prices for tap water. These restaurants are in business to sell things, not give things away for free.

 

[deegack]

I think the solution to this quandary is to start charging regular soda prices for tap water. These restaurants are in business to sell things, not give things away for free.

A lot of states have laws that restaurants and bars must provide tap water free of charge

 

[Keli]

I can only drink water or crystal light type of drinks NO carbonation. And I would resent paying the same price for tap water as for soda!
Come on, tap water is the basis of soda before all the other ingredients are added, no way should the price be the same when the cost is so much less. But making me pay .25 for the cup is acceptable which is what my local sonic does.

 

[phorsenuf]

You can always buy a bottle of water there.

 

[mtemm]

I worked at mcdonalds back in the mid 1980s and that is the cup we gave out then for water, and we didn't have a fountain of free refilled soda for folks buying. that had nothing to do with it. it came down to the fact that the cups cost money. same with the movie theatre I also worked at. we gave out courtesy cups for water, but yes, they were very small dixie-cup like cups.

 

[zoemurr]

We went to McD the other night and ordered a shake and a cup of water to share. They were the same size.

I have never understood the bottled water infatuation.. I am too cheap and it is too bad for the environment so I won't pay for it. We are in NY and have very good tap water.

I would rather pay a quarter for the cup.. that is perfectly reasonable to me.