# What's the deal with people ordering ice cream or soda on cold days? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [January 22, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439 "2014-01-22T09:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/1 "2014-01-22T09:02:43Z")
I was down at McDonalds freezing my ass off. The van hadn’t been driven for three days and was taking forever to warm up. Shivering. It was 30 outside and must of been 25 inside that icebox of a van. It hurt even holding onto that frozen plastic steering wheel. I look into the drive up pickup window and some dumb ass had ordered a freaking ice cream sundae? A cold chill ran up my entire spine just looking at that thing. I won’t even order a soda in below zero weather. I want no part of ice in my drink. Yeah, I despise cold weather. I hate being cold and won’t make it worse with cold beverages or ice cream. I don’t get it. Is there any demand for ice cream in the winter? Why even bother selling it? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/2 "2014-01-22T09:09:27Z")
Because ice cream tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/3 "2014-01-22T09:16:14Z")
Because most people have heat in their vehicle, and 30 isn’t frightfully cold to many of us (given that we’re in shelter away from the wind) anyway? And because ice cream tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/4 "2014-01-22T09:26:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > **What’s the deal with people ordering ice cream or soda on cold days?** > [@](#): > > I won’t even order a soda in below zero weather. I want no part of ice in my drink. > > Yeah, I despise cold weather. I hate being cold and won’t make it worse with cold beverages or ice cream. I need caffeine; I can’t stand coffee; if you want me to say _“from my cold dead hands,”_ I’ll say _“from my cold dead hands.”_ ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/5 "2014-01-22T09:34:06Z")
If I’ve just completed a 20km hike carrying a 15kg backpack, even if it’s -5°C, I’d like a nice cold ice-cream thank you very much 😛 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/6 "2014-01-22T09:52:23Z")
I guess that cold stuff in your belly doesn’t make you even colder? It does me. I don’t mind something cold if I’ve been in my heated house. But I can’t recall buying ice cream in the winter in quite a few years. We eat plenty of it in the summer. But running down to a fast food place never gives the van time to heat up. I get chilled to the bone. I knew better than to even go out tonight, but I was craving a quarter pounder so bad. sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Roundabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dec6dc/32.png) [@Roundabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roundabout)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/7 "2014-01-22T11:03:11Z")
Taste doesn’t change with the temperature. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/8 "2014-01-22T11:10:02Z")
I see it plenty around here. People walking down the sidewalk with bubble teas, smoothies, other iced drinks. Most of us here dress warmly, layers and hats and gloves. We’re perfectly comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/9 "2014-01-22T11:12:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I guess that cold stuff in your belly doesn’t make you even colder? > > It does me. Well, yes, it does. That’s physics. But that doesn’t mean everyone else feels as cold as you do. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/10 "2014-01-22T11:31:31Z")
On a really cold day, ice cream seems comparatively warm. And who limits themselves to cold food in the summer? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/11 "2014-01-22T14:38:55Z")
For many folks. 30F simply isn’t very cold. It isn’t for me. I often have ice tea with breakfast, summer or winter. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/12 "2014-01-22T15:08:54Z")
I actually love ice cream best in the dead of winter. It makes you cold, but then your body makes you warm! And really 30 f isn’t cold at all. This morning it was 7 here. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/13 "2014-01-22T15:09:00Z")
I suspect it’s all in what you’re used to, as when I was in Maine once on one _goddamned cold_ June day (it was, like, 55?) I couldn’t believe all the people crowded around the ice cream stand, eating their ice cream in the shrieking freezing wind. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/14 "2014-01-22T15:10:31Z")
Watched the weather this morning and last night’s low was 24. Much Colder than I was expecting. Thats part of the problem in Arkansas. Monday was in the low 60’s. By Tuesday afternoon the high was in the 30’s. We get these bizarre 30 degree weather swings every wonter. Its hard to get into a cold weather mindset with parkas, mittens,scarves, and wool hat. I was way under dressed for 24 degree temps last night. A light windbreaker was a bad idea. Anyway I’m surprised so many people like cold foods and drinks in the winter. I want steaming hot bowls of chili or stew. Washed down with coffee or hot chocolate. Hot spiced cider is nice too. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/15 "2014-01-22T15:18:42Z")
I hate the cold, but I do like ice cream in the cold. I couldn’t tell you why. Maybe the cold causes my under active sweet tooth to kick into gear. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/16 "2014-01-22T15:25:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Its hard to get into a cold weather mindset with parkas, mittens,scarves, and wool hat. I was way under dressed for 24 degree temps last night. A light windbreaker was a bad idea. I wore a sweatshirt instead of my winter coat a few days ago because it was up in the 20s. My steering wheel doesn’t hurt to hold until it’s about -5 and when that happens, I put on a pair of gloves. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/17 "2014-01-22T15:41:33Z")
Check the data and you’ll see that many of the states with the highest per capita consumption of ice cream are cold states. Ice cream knows no temperature restrictions! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/18 "2014-01-22T15:49:17Z")
I can see you questioning the ice cream, but soda? Huh? Soda is not a “cold weather” or “warm weather” drink, it’s just a drink. Are you telling us that during winter the only liquids you drink are hot? That is really weird if true. ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/19 "2014-01-22T15:55:05Z")
That doesn’t bother me so much as the idiots who pack up their kids and take them out to eat in nasty weather. I’m not talking just cold, but subzero windchill and icy roads kind of weather. I think if it’s so bad that school and many workplaces are closed you really shouldn’t be running around unless it’s an emergency. :rolleyes: And of course these morons usually come in just as we’re getting the call to close up and go home… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439/20 "2014-01-22T15:59:17Z")
I drink soda year around at home. I just don’t want one when I’ve been outside and am cold. Which is usually the case when I go for fast food. A 15 minute drive doesn’t begin to cut the chill out of a van. Makes it easy to say no to a _Meal Deal_. \ People enjoy different foods. Whatever floats their boat. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I can see you questioning the ice cream, but soda? Huh? Soda is not a “cold weather” or “warm weather” drink, it’s just a drink. Are you telling us that during winter the only liquids you drink are hot? That is really weird if true. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-people-ordering-ice-cream-or-soda-on-cold-days/679439.md?page=2)