Mark up another loss to inflation and a lousy economy. The New York Post reports that McDonald's will do away with free drink refills soon.

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“McDonald’s tends to be a leader in the industry. And often, other restaurants follow suit when they make big changes. McDonald’s is very smart about their costs,” said Darren Tristano, CEO of consulting firm FoodserviceResults.

Last year, it was reported that Mickey D’s was gradually phasing out its self-serve soda fountains for dine-in customers by 2032. However, a company rep said that charging for refills would be left “at the discretion of individual restaurant owners/operators.”

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We expect the same soon in Texas. The company has always been a leader in the industry, so you can expect other restaurants and convenience stores to adopt the same policies.

While it may have felt like the greatest thing since sliced buns when McDonald’s installed the self-serve fountains in 2004, Susskind believes they’re more of a hassle than they are worth these days.

“The amount of cleaning and upkeep that’s required for these guest-facing dispensers is pretty significant,” he said. “The ice has to be replaced, you have to clean up the mess, you have to pick up the straw fragments.”

TikTok-famous ex-McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz recently said that drink theft was likely part of the brand’s rationale, among other factors.

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He added that the chain also considers it more desirable for folks to use the drive-thru for quicker turnover times.

 

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