McDonald’s May Be Ending Its Free Drink Refills

For the past 20 years, McDonald’s patrons have been able to fill and refill their soft drinks. Today, the restaurant chain is starting to phase out this service.

In 2004, the company introduced self-serve soda machines. These allowed patrons to fill their own cups and, if they wished, refill them again with more of their beverage of choice.

According to Nation’s Restaurant News, the company made a statement that said, “McDonald’s will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by 2032. The change is intended to create a consistent experience for both customers and crew across all ordering points, whether that’s McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant.”

McDonald’s did not say how the removals would impact drink refills. However, it told Business Insider last year that free refills would still be available “at the discretion of individual restaurant owner/operators.” This means that some locations may ditch free refills altogether, while others might still offer them — customers will just have to ask employees to top them off.

McDonald’s is getting rid of free drink refills — and more fast-food chains may follow https://t.co/RsSeeUVCkg pic.twitter.com/w2hcRwnwse

— New York Post (@nypost) May 14, 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many fast-food restaurants stopped patrons from using DIY drink machines in the interest of public safety. Slowly, some restaurants allowed patrons to operate the drink machines again, and while some McDonald’s locations allowed the process, others ended it altogether.

The National Restaurant Association shared a 10-page document around the pandemic, providing a range of recommendations for eateries to follow, including frequent sanitizing of tables and using rolled silverware (instead of table presets). The association also referenced FDA guidelines but offered the following advice for restaurants that keep self-serve drink stations in use: Lemons (or any drink extras) and unwrapped straws should be removed, and the stations should be regularly cleaned.

McDonald’s has introduced several other changes in recent years, including the opening of an automated restaurant near Fort Worth, Texas, revamped burgers with “pillowy” buns, and Krispy Kreme donuts at some locations.