Buy a meal at a fast food pay for tap water

[Rmay635703]

Noticed this starting at McDonalds a month ago, virtually all fast food places in Wisconsin appear to charge for tap water when you buy a meal. Such that under all circumstances you pay for each tap water glass.

I don’t care for soda, so I guess I’m back to how it was 2000-2005 when I worked a booth at malls where everyone was pushing you to at least take a chlorine filled tap water and charged a buck for it even though they never post the charge anywhere on their sign or menu.

Being a poor college student I learned to always tell the place I don’t want any drink. They always seemed shocked that I didn’t want a drink.
My friends always thought it odd I usually only would order food but I was burned by it so many times I learned to have my own drinks along.

If I do have to pay for a water glass and there is 2 of us we can share a water glass, by myself I just drink what I want at the car.

 

[supton]

I don’t blame them, its a business and all.

I just do what I can to avoid eating out. Saves the most that way. Then if I do have to eat out, I care less about the cost.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Years ago I was in Germany and only had a few Euros and change. They told me water was 1 Euro. I told them, "No. Water is free."

 

[Pablo]

Lead isn’t cheap

 

[Lubener]

I am standing on my head to read your receipt.

 

[Rmay635703]

I don’t blame them, its a business and all.

I just do what I can to avoid eating out. Saves the most that way. Then if I do have to eat out, I care less about the cost.

Legally if you’re gonna charge for something it needs to be clearly displayed. In no place on their sign or menu is a price listed.

This would be similar to charging money to leave the toilet.

I have no issue charging for something so long as I know I’m paying.

If I have to pay for mayo, ketchup and condiments (which happens) I bring my own, oops.

 

[supton]

Fair enough about listing the price.

Although the wife and daughter have done a couple of Euro trips the last couple of years, and have pointed out having to pay to use the loo—but you pay before going in, of course.

 

[JohnnyG]

You're buying the plastic cup and lid, the water is free.

 

[JohnnyG]

Fair enough about listing the price.

Although the wife and daughter have done a couple of Euro trips the last couple of years, and have pointed out having to pay to use the loo—but you pay before going in, of course.

Reminds me of an old joke. I mean REALLY old. There used to be pay toilets in airports in the US.

 

[vwmaniaman]

That makes as much sense as a pay toilet in a diarrhea ward.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Until you realize that the way they do drinks now days, they are self serve= order water get free Coke.

 

[JMJNet]

We usually bring our own water in a bottle.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Fair enough about listing the price.

Although the wife and daughter have done a couple of Euro trips the last couple of years, and have pointed out having to pay to use the loo—but you pay before going in, of course.

Same in a lot of Mexico. They are kept clean so that's nice.

 

[Rmay635703]

You're buying the plastic cup and lid, the water is free.

Didn’t get a lid or straw, I only had 1 glass and was charged for 2.

We usually bring our own water in a bottle.

Our state has a law that if you sit down inside the restaurant you aren’t supposed to bring in anything, be it water , containers, condiments, obviously food.

On a few occasions my mother has talked to the proprietor and brought in her dietary need specific water, dressing and condiments.

No issues yet but haven’t done it often .

 

[AKhan87]

Didn’t get a lid or straw, I only had 1 glass and was charged for 2.


Our state has a law that if you sit down inside the restaurant you aren’t supposed to bring in anything, be it water , containers, condiments, obviously food.

On a few occasions my mother has talked to the proprietor and brought in her dietary need specific water, dressing and condiments.

No issues yet but haven’t done it often .

thank you for this, I will avoid Wisconsin.

The experience you mention is the same I had in Europe (2013), I was so shocked that they would charge for water.

I haven't had the same experience in any other state, and I travel all of over the US. I am surprised, even California doesn't charge for water (at least in my experience from April 2023 to April 2025) granted I don't eat at McDonalds.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The proprietor can do whatever they want. So long as its listed I guess I don't see a problem. There is a cost associated. If the rest of the meal is reasonably priced I wouldn't complain about 79 cents. Were the $7.50 burgers good?

In general I don't pay for fast food. Not just that its unhealthy, but its ridiculously over-priced also.

I "ice cup" has long been a thing at Southern gas stations - basically their fountain drink cup filled with ice and nothing else. They used to be 25 cents but I haven't bought one in a while so it could be much more now.

 

[AKhan87]

In general I don't pay for fast food. Not just that its unhealthy, but its ridiculously over-priced also.

This is why I have a problem with it, Chipotle is around ~$9.50ish if they charge for water, I would gladly pay, insane difference in the quality of food, I am not paying for water at fast food restaurant with over priced burger that have very low quality protein.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This is why I have a problem with it, Chipotle is around ~$9.50ish if they charge for water, I would gladly pay, insane difference in the quality of food, I am not paying for water at fast food restaurant with over priced burger that have very low quality protein.

I stopped Chipotle a decade ago as being a giant unhealthy rip-off. I guess they were simply just way ahead of their time.

 

[ATex7239]

Water is free? When did this happen? I’ll let my utilities provider know they need to stop sending me those water bills.

 

[dishdude]

Water is free? When did this happen? I’ll let my utilities provider know they need to stop sending me those water bills.

How much does 12 ounces of tap water cost? Add a card swipe to water fountains!