Free Drink Refills - Common or Not?

[disneychrista]

We've actually had to push our glasses out of the way to get them to stop they do it so often.

Just because they fill the glass does not mean you have to keep drinking.

Free fountain refills is the norm around here. Now what surprised me once is I was in west Texas and I ordered a second can of diet coke. When I got the check I told the waitress she forgot to add the second soda to the bill. She told me I had one free refill and there was no charge. No charge for a second can of soda? Wow, that's going above and beyond.

Just curious how much was the "first" can of coke?

 

[bcla]

Add in ice, paper cups/lids/straws if take-out, depreciation on the equipment, labor costs if not self-serve, wastage, etc. and it's closer to 2 cents per ounce. Yep, still the biggest profit maker by far. I fully understand why Manhattan and some other places don't offer free refills. It's not that they're greedy; it's one of the few places they can make a profit.

You didn't have Teem as Pepsi's alternative to Sprite? How about Slice?

Mid 80s. They also sold cans from a display cooler for those who wanted it. Coke was available, but of course no refills.

I know of one restaurant in my area that's never served fountain beverages - only cans. Coffee and iced tea always came with free refills.

 

[wenrob]

Just because they fill the glass does not mean you have to keep drinking.

The problem is they constantly "top off" which melts the ice and waters them down and/or they see you're halfway through one and bring new ones to add to all the other glasses at the table.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I think there's a higher concentration of places not offering free refills when you get into downtown areas. It probably costs more to be there in the first place so I understand that. I agree with the PP in that since New York is very expensive, it's a way to make up for the costs of rent or real estate.

It's pretty much the norm around here to offer free refills but I do see the occasional 'no free refills' sign or a lesser cost on the refills i.e. $.25 or $.50.

 

[mamacatnv]

Free refills and a lot of the non-chain restaurants here in TX offer a drink for the road, to go.

I love this!!! Cracker Barrel always offers as well as many other "sit down table restaurants" I actually buy more ice tea than I ever did when we go out because of the to-go option.

I've noticed that there are a few small Asian and Mexican restaurants that charge a quarter or so for a refill of soda but ice tea is always free refills.

All the chains and the fast food joints offer free refills of soda - specialty things like flavored lemonade etc I have noticed come with 1 refill or maybe a lesser charge for the 2nd glass.

I'm in Austin TX

 

[shoney]

We live on Long Island (outside of NYC) and it is rare to find free refills.

Chain restaurants are usually the only place you will get free refills, every where else be prepared to pay.

 

[figment_jii]

Thank you to all who have responded! So, in general, it sounds like "no free refill" is a New York thing and not the norm for most of the US. That is good to know. At least tap water at restaurants was still free in NYC!

 

[NMAmy]

Free refills are the norm here in the Michigan and were also the norm in New Mexico and southern Colorado. The only place I've really been that didn't offer free refills besides NYC was in the UK.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I still remember eating at Chili's in Arkansas back in 1992...first place I had eaten at ever that offered free refills. We had some friends that moved there and they had to take us there because of the free refills. It was certainly a novelty!! It took probably another 5 years or so for free refills to be somewhat of the norm in our area. Now, everyone has free refills.

 

[mjkacmom]

We live on Long Island (outside of NYC) and it is rare to find free refills.

Chain restaurants are usually the only place you will get free refills, every where else be prepared to pay.

NE NJ and its probably 50/50. We rarely eat at chains. The more casual the restaurant, the more likely they will gave free refills. My kids usually order water, and DH and I don't drink soda.

 

[mnrose]

I never order soda, so I have no idea about refills. I get water, and that's free. LOL!

 

[thinkerbell]

From SC and I don't know of anywhere that doesn't give free refills. The only place I can think of where we were charged for refills was at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in Oahu. We didn't like our meal there to begin with and then to get our bill and see that they had added on every time we got a refill in our little glass---we won't go back there. We haven't encountered any other place there that does that.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Free refills have never been common in NYC (well, at least in my 40 yrs). Soda is horrible for you, I'm happy to have just the one and then drink water.

 

[chisnpeke]

I live in Ohio and I've only been to a couple places that didn't offer free refills.

 

[BillSears]

...Just curious how much was the "first" can of coke?

I think it was only a dollar, $1.50 at the most. This was in a little Mexican food place in El Paso. But the $5.00 burrito I got was fantastic.

 

[ebtbmom]

Free refills are the norm here in the Michigan and were also the norm in New Mexico and southern Colorado. The only place I've really been that didn't offer free refills besides NYC was in the UK.

In NC free refills are the norm as well. We didn't know this was an American thing until we went to Ireland and accidentally spent $30 on soda !

 

[MIGrandma]

There is a local pizza place that does not offer free refills on glasses of pop, because they also sell it by the pitcher. Otherwise I cant think of any other restaurant that doesnt give free refills on their soft drinks, tea and coffee. DH really appreciates restaurants that dont charge extra (if you have already purchased a drink that comes with free refills) for a cup of coffee if you order dessert too.

 

[lauradis]

Drink mostly water, coffee and screw drivers. NE Ohio. Just ask if your not at a chain.

water free
soda free refills
coffee free refills
screw driver no free refills

 

[tvguy]

I never order soda, so I have no idea about refills. I get water, and that's free. LOL!

Interesting about NYC. I know my daughter was surprised when she went away for a year to college in England that there are no free refills on soda, and that if you just wanted water, they always brought you expensive bottled water unless you specified tap water.
No tips, of course either in the U.K. And restaurant jobs are minimum wage jobs there too, granted about $2 an hour more than here, but that still nowhere near the $15 an hour some of the unions are demanding here for minimum wage i the restaurant industry. A co-worker used to work part time on Friday and Saturday nights in a sports bar, and even after tip sharing, she was making about $60 an hour in tips.

 

[drinkme]

I never order soda, so I have no idea about refills. I get water, and that's free. LOL!

Same here.

I do remember eating at the castle in the early 90's and they didn't have free refills on anything except milk. I still remember that because I thought that was strange