Buy a meal at a fast food pay for tap water

[Rmay635703]

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.

Yes papa burgers are good as far as fast food goes. Got a free root beer float so I can’t complain too much. (Grand re-opening of the first A&W in the area in many years, got a card of coupon freebies )

Was just surprised that I’m charged for tap water when I’ve actually purchased food.

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

Far less than toilet paper , on the order of hundredths of a cent depending on the region

The

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.

I encountered a McDonalds down south Kentucky/Tennessee that was charging for water a month ago.

Surprise Surprise now I’m encountering it various places up here. Culver’s tap water is still free as are sit down restaurants.

But usually if one fast food place does something they all start doing it.

 

[Lubener]

To a very thirsty individual, water can be priceless.

 

[ecotourist]

We were recently in Budapest, Hungary. At the first restaurant we visited we were charged several dollars (in local currency) for a jug of warm tap water.

In addition to various taxes, a tip was added, and the bill was presented with a "would you like to add an extra tip" suggestion. A very light meal suddenly became quite expensive.

The food was quite good but we never went back. Billing several dollars for a jug of warm tap water felt like a rip off. Meals elsewhere in Budapest were quite reasonably priced.

 

[AKhan87]

We were recently in Budapest, Hungary. At the first restaurant we visited we were charged several dollars (in local currency) for a jug of warm tap water.

In addition to various taxes, a tip was added, and the bill was presented with a "would you like to add an extra tip" suggestion. A very light meal suddenly became quite expensive.

The food was quite good but we never went back. Billing several dollars for a jug of warm tap water felt like a rip off. Meals elsewhere in Budapest were quite reasonably priced.

and that is exactly where I had my water experience in Europe.

Budapest, Hungary and Szeged, Hungary.

 

[ATex7239]

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

How much does it cost to let someone use the bathroom? Some businesses only allow paying customers to use the facilities cause it’s a business out to make money. It’s the same in my mind. It would be kind to give away these things for free but to say it’s “free” is incorrect. The business pays for it and is allowed to expect compensation for its use.

 

[sxg6]

People were probably scamming them by getting a cup for “water”, and using it for soda instead. So this might be their way of trying to fight back against that.

 

[ATex7239]

People were probably scamming them by getting a cup for “water”, and using it for soda instead. So this might be their way of trying to fight back against that.

Highly probable.

It reminds me of years ago when my mother would let neighbors come by and take fruits from the trees in the backyard. We couldn’t eat them all by ourselves, so my mom would allow the neighbors to fill up one grocery sack each. Before too long people started bringing multiple. Then large trash bags. Final she caught one of the neighbors selling her fruits and that was the end of it. She stopped allowing anyone to do it. People started feeling entitled to the “free” fruit she had worked for and was generously giving away.

 

[mikeduf]

I have since boycotted all fast food restaurants.
Only will use in an emergency while on the road for a coffee and that's questionable!
Just my two cents

 

[RaymondP]

One of my criteria for a "good" restaurant is that they serve and maintain a free cold glass of water. No pressure to spend on overpriced drinks. Never regarded McDonalds as a "good" restaurant. Maybe an average fast-food restaurant, depending on the specific location.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I bring my 1 liter store brand seltzer water wherever I go. No massive qty of HFC or cane or agave for me. It's a killer.
Better not even try to charge me corkage for my water.

Now since when has McD'd served water in a glass?

 

[Rmay635703]

People were probably scamming them by getting a cup for “water”, and using it for soda instead. So this might be their way of trying to fight back against that.

A&W hasn’t been in town in 50 years, they just opened in a derelict Wendy’s that oddly is close to where they were in the 70’s before the road moved. Historically there was a modern A&W 18 miles away built long after that but it went under a decade ago.

There are a few news articles stating fast food is loving charging for water because it’s a pure profit center.
A small drink is 99 cents tap water is 78 cents, not hard to do the math that this makes them a lot of money on < 5 cent tap water cups

 

[y_p_w]

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

I dine a fair bit in a city that now has a requirement to charge for all disposable cups. One place used to provide paper cups for free just for water. For a while (after the cup charge requirement) they would charge the required amount for a paper cup but eventually switched completely to classic foodservice tumblers.

Theoretically one can get around that at a fast food place by providing a cup (or reusing one) but I’ve never seen it done in this town with anything like fast food or soft drinks. Coffee places are generally more accommodating. I’ve bought coffee where I provided a vacuum bottle and was charged for a “small”.

 

[Bailey28]

A water cup at McDonalds here is free. Wife and I also bring our own concentrated tea mix in the little squirt bottles for when we eat at restaurants. The waitresses are usually confused when they return to the table and see 'tea' in the glass rather than the water they brought us. lol. Sodas and tea at restuarants here are around $4.00 each.

 

[SeaJay]

Perhaps it is an attempt to stop folks from requesting a cup of water from reusing the cup to fill up on the self serve soft drink dispenser.

 

[FordP3]

It used to be about "Customer Service", now it is just about greed.