# NO FREE REFILLS (you cheap ba\*sta\*ds) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467 "2003-08-15T22:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/1 "2003-08-15T22:01:35Z")
I know it’s rare these days but why are there still some restaraunts that charge for refills on soda??? I’m not talking about a fast food chain that doesn’t want kids loitering around drinking soda all day, i’m talking about sit down and get waited on restauraunts. How cheap does an owner have to be?? Everyone knows how cheap the stuff is, $1 for a 2-liter, just pennies if they have it on tap. So why can 7-Eleven give me a Big Gulp for 69 cents but Bob’s Steakhouse wants to stick me for $1.25 everytime I refill my barglass with Coke?? Do they really make more money by doing this and ignore pissing people like myself off?? ---
**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/2 "2003-08-15T22:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hampshire \* > \*\*Do they really make more money by doing this and ignore pissing people like myself off?? \*\* Yes. Yes they do. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/3 "2003-08-15T22:11:15Z")
Get a life. If you asked for a free refill anywhere in a NYC establishment, you’d be laughed outta dodge. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/4 "2003-08-15T22:21:51Z")
Last time I checked, 7-11 didn’t have to pay someone to bring you your drink and wash it out when you’re done with it. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/5 "2003-08-15T22:25:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > \*\*Last time I checked, 7-11 didn’t have to pay someone to bring you your drink and wash it out when you’re done with it. \*\* Then aren’t they technically saving money by not having to buy more cups every week? -foxy ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/6 "2003-08-15T22:31:02Z")
As cheap as you seem to be. ---
**Author:** ![andymurph64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@andymurph64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andymurph64)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/7 "2003-08-15T22:40:30Z")
Geez you guys are harsh! 😉 I haven’t seen a place that charges for refills in…um…well a VERY long time. I suppose it would bother me enough so that I would no longer eat there. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/8 "2003-08-15T22:49:30Z")
Apropos of, oh, nothing, last week my mother was griping: “Who would pay FOUR DOLLARS for a sandwich??” I don’t eat out with her very often. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/9 "2003-08-15T22:59:52Z")
Here…in the BBQ restaurants, they come around and ask if you want gratis refills on whatever you are drinking. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/10 "2003-08-15T23:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*Get a life. If you asked for a free refill anywhere in a NYC establishment, you’d be laughed outta dodge. \*\* I don’t believe that. Maybe in the mom and pop places, but not in the bigger restaurants and chains. Jon ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/11 "2003-08-15T23:15:19Z")
I don’t believe I’ve ever _seen_ a restaurant charge for a refill. Many of the fast food joints even place the soda dispensers in the customer area. But then again, this is Utah, what do you expect? Sadly, the bars _do_ charge for each refill. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/12 "2003-08-15T23:30:38Z")
It’s called making a buck any way you can, and yes, I agree it’s kind of cheap. I think I can one up you though. I recently got a moonlighting job as a bartender and noticed something odd about how the computer system charges people for drinks. If you order a mid-shelf liquor neat - $5. On the rocks - $5.25. WTF? We charge for fucking _ice_?! ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/13 "2003-08-15T23:39:04Z")
\*\* Lola said… Get a life. If you asked for a free refill anywhere in a NYC establishment, you’d be laughed outta dodge \*\* Lola, to paraphrase George Carlin, all generalizations are wrong, including yours. Here in Chicago, even the best restaurants don’t charge for refills on soft drinks (some do, i just don’t patronize them). Not that it matters either way really, I mean if you’re paying 35 bucks for an entree, at [N9NE](http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=301853&rn=Illinois+%2D+Chicago&ct=&cs=0&ne=0&al=N&nv=1&pg=1&bsp=1&qty=4) and kvetching about a buck and a quarter for a coke, i’d have to wonder… :dubious: Hamp, I think you’re best to vote with your feet on this one. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/14 "2003-08-16T00:14:44Z")
There are places that give you free refills? ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/15 "2003-08-16T00:28:06Z")
Okay - what am I missing here? In all my dining years in Manhattan, I have NEVER witnessed a free soda refill, ANYWHERE! People do not expect it, cuz it just doesn’t happen. Period. Yes, you will get free refills on iced tea and coffee, but soda or juice? You will pay for your refill, and you will LIKE IT. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/16 "2003-08-16T00:28:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\*Here…in the BBQ restaurants, they come around and ask if you want gratis refills on whatever you are drinking. \*\* mmm!! lexington bbq!! i need to visit my cousins in reedy creek. i think in the last 10 years they replaced the flashing red light with a real 3 color signal! bbq should not be sweet. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/17 "2003-08-16T00:30:25Z")
By the way, did you know a Diet Coke at Scores costs $8? No refills! A diet coke at the Rainbow Room bar costs $6.00 - and guess what? No refills! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/18 "2003-08-16T00:33:43Z")
I’m aware of only one establishment in Australia that gives free refills, Hungry Jacks/Burger King\*. ALL other restaurants from fast food to the exquisitely expensive charge for all drinks but water. Fair enough too, the major costs for a business aren’t the costs of food/drink etc, it’s overheads such as rent, wages, and insurance. If they weren’t charging for soft drinks they’d have to charge more for meals. \*Hungry Jacks is the same as Burger King. Some bars give free soft drinks if you are the designated sober driver (“sober bob”). ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/19 "2003-08-16T01:33:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ladyfoxfyre \* > Then aren’t they technically saving money by not having to buy more cups every week? > -foxy Not when you factor in the costs of labor paid to bring the drink to the customer and wash the dishes, which is what I was implying. The plastic cups are cheap, glasses are less so, although their cost would be recouped over time. The labor, however, is a recurring cost that must be factored in. It’s either charge a buck & then some for a drink, or factor it into the price of the meals, but either way you’re going to pay about the same. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467/20 "2003-08-16T01:51:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jwhee \* > \*\*mmm!! lexington bbq!! > > snip… > > bbq should not be sweet. \*\* The bbq isn’t sweet… the slaw is…🙂 I get mine mostly at speedy’s…down by High Rock. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-free-refills-you-cheap-ba-sta-ds/195467.md?page=2)