McDonald’s Is Getting Rid of Self-Serve Soda Fountain

If you have stopped into a McDonald's lately and noticed the soda fountain is gone from the dining room, you are not imagining things. And if it has not happened at your location yet, it is coming.

If you're a Diet Coke fiend like me - you know McDonald's fountain Diet Coke is the GOAT - and now refills of the crispest soda ever may become a thing of the past.

McDonald's is officially phasing out self-serve soda fountains at all of its U.S. restaurants. The company wants the change done at every location by 2032. That means here in Berkshire County, where we have five or six McDonald's locations, the days of walking up and filling your own cup are numbered. -today.com

So why are they doing it? A few reasons. McDonald's has been making a big push to compete in the premium drink space, going up against places like Starbucks and Dutch Bros with more customized, handcrafted beverages. A self-serve fountain kind of kills that vibe. They also want better control over portion sizes and drink quality, and let's be honest, the free refill situation has probably been costing them money for years.

There is also a hygiene argument. Shared soda nozzles that hundreds of people touch every day became a much harder sell after COVID, and the industry has been quietly moving away from communal self-serve setups ever since.

Now here is the thing. McDonald's Sprite has a legitimate cult following. People swear it hits different there because of how carbonated it is. There is a whole corner of the internet dedicated to the "crispy Sprite" and whether it will taste the same when an employee pours it versus when you pour it yourself.

Honestly, that might be the real controversy here.

If you are a die-hard self-serve soda fan, you have got until 2032 to enjoy it.