An ettiquite question

[sanchopanza65]

This has been bothering me for a while and I figure, who better to ask than a bunch of retail workers:wave:

If you order a drink that has free refills at a fast-food restaurant, and you share it between two or more people is it okay to get said refills?

[RetailWorkhorse]

Good question.....

I only have qualms about it because unless I'm sharing spit with the person who shares my bed (or at least my shower) then I'm not sharing my soda.


But then that wasn't the question. The question is Is This Right Or Wrong.

*Thinks*

I'd say no. It's not right to share refills.

[Primer]

I agree with RW. Each person should get their own drink. If they want to be cheap, then drink water.

[Jester]

This has been bothering me for a while and I figure, who better to ask than a bunch of retail workers:wave:

If you order a drink that has free refills at a fast-food restaurant, and you share it between two or more people is it okay to get said refills?

Actually the person to ask is someone who works in a restaurant, not a retail worker.

Hi, my name is Jester, and I work in TWO restaurant/bars, and have been in the industry 22 years.

Technically speaking, an establishment that offers refills can, and some WILL, charge you for TWO drinks if two people are drinking off of one drink and getting refills. It is a cheap way around paying for two drinks, to be honest.

Most of the time we'll let it go. A lot of times parents will order one drink for their two kids. No biggie. Or a parent will share their drink with their child. Also no biggie. But when two adults get one soda, share it, and then get numerous refills? Well, that is just wrong, and, as I said, cheap.

Generally speaking, the few times that has happened to me, I have bit my tongue and not said anything (yes, me--believe it or not!), because I didn't really see the point in escalating the situation. I DO know that my Rockin' Manager would, if she saw something like this, make the server charge the table for two drinks. And I don't disagree with her.

The fact is, every single time I have seen this, it told me one thing: those people were cheap. And every single time, I have been proven indubitably correct by the pathetic excuse for a tip these people have left.

Look, it's one thing if your date takes a few sips of your Sprite to wet their whistle. No one's going to give you shit about that. But if the two of you plough through ten refills of Sprite in one glass, well, that just tells the server you are cheap assholes. And since the "free refills" thing applies PER PERSON ordering a drink, in reality it is no different than stealing.

Is it wrong? Yes. Is it cheap? Within the parameters described above? Again, yes. Can you get away with it? Most times. Are you going to be mocked in the server's head, and possibly in the back of the house out of earshot? Unquestionably.

Fast food places will call you on this more than a server in a restaurant, for the very simple reason that the server is hoping not to diminish their forthcoming tip. But my experience with this phenomenon is that their is not much forthcoming to diminish.

You wanted opinions? There's mine. Brutal and honest. Hope you don't take it as anything personal, as it was not meant as an attack on you specifically, so much as an indictment in general against people who pull this. Because no, in the end, it is not right.

[RayvenQ]

This is kind of out of my area, since over here we don't do refills, but still, I'd be inclined to agree with Jester, though I wonder how he would feel if a person shared a drink and then when they got the refill, had it all to themselves with no more sharing.

[PizzaDrone]

In my opinion, it is effectively stealing, because two people will drain one drink much quicker, meaning that they are drinking enough for two while only paying for one. It also can make more work for a server, who has to refill twice as often in theory.

[Emrld]

Kudos to Jester for adding in the clause about Child and Child or Child and Parent sharing a drink is different than adults sharing.
Of course when I do this with my Sister's kids - I order an adult drink . . .not a childs. (Unless I am the one just wanting one sip to wet my whistle)
If you order a drink and share it and don't get any refills I have no problem.
I do have to agree that if multiple Teens and or adults are sharing a drink and getting refills but don't buy seperate drinks is actually stealing.

I will add that I know of some bars where a group of 4 can come in and 3 order adult beverages . . . the 4th gets soda, tea, or coffee. The bill arrives and the 4th persons beverage is not charged. (reward for being a responsable driver) Not all bars so this and not all bars do it for everyone . . .but I personally appreciate the consideration.

[Jester]

I wonder how he would feel if a person shared a drink and then when they got the refill, had it all to themselves with no more sharing.

Depends. Did they share a little of the first one, then drink the refills by themselves? See, I am not against sharing per se. But if you are both drinking constantly out of one drink and getting tons of refills? Stealing.

Kudos to Jester for adding in the clause about Child and Child or Child and Parent sharing a drink is different than adults sharing.

Well, yes and no. I was referring to small kids, for the most part, who don't drink that much. However, if the two younguns are drinking gallons of the stuff, but just sharing one drink? Same as above. Stealing. And a cheap fucking parent, to boot.

[Evil Queen]

Hi. I used to be a waitress for a year and a half before I got into my current field.

I agree with Jester, he hit it right on the nail head.

[sanchopanza65]

Thanks for the thoughts. This question arose in a costco food court, and I had never really thought of it before. I shared my dad's drink because I didn't really want to pay for a separate one. Didn't get any refills though, and I see the logic behind it.

[Emrld]

(I did mean small children toegether/ small child and parent . . .not drinking gallons . .. so we were on the same page I just didn't word it clearly)