I think it’s more about keeping the “riff raff” away and taking out a part of the experience that is always grimy and unclean. But also they probably increase profit margins by more than few % from all the people who don’t bother to walk up and bother an underpaid overworked cashier for more drink.
The largest cost when serving a fountain soft drink (by an order of 2-3 times, minimum) is the cost of the cup/lid/straw.
Or at least that’s what it was a decade ago, can’t imagine it’s changed
I think it’s more about keeping the “riff raff” away and taking out a part of the experience that is always grimy and unclean. But also they probably increase profit margins by more than few % from all the people who don’t bother to walk up and bother an underpaid overworked cashier for more drink.
Oh for sure, I’m just making it clear that nobody is running their business off a cliff cuz the soda fountain overages, it’s a almost pure profit