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Beverages most commonly eligible for free refills are coffee and fountain soft drinks. In recent years refill drinks are becoming widespread in UK restaurants, however this practice is almost universal at restaurants in the United States for many years. Refill drinks are still extremely rare in Europe.
Contents
Early
Although no one can trace the exact roots of the "free refill", there are a few historical references. According to the book The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug, around the 1890s if you were to ask a European visitor what in his opinion is the most noteworthy feature of American cafes, he is most likely to say, "they refill your cup without charge, without asking!" This book also contains another historical reference; it refers to the American roots of free refill. It states, "perhaps, the endless refill is symbolic of America's special affection for coffee and its culture of largesse and informality as well".
Modern
In 1988 Taco Bell launched their "value initiative" which included drive-through windows, reduced prices, and free refills. As a major soda company owned Taco Bell, this was strategically done to increase revenue and build the soda company's brand awareness. Free refills are now offered in most American restaurants.
Marketing
Free refills are seen as a good way to attract customers to an establishment, especially one whose beverages are not their primary source of income. Due to the extremely low cost of fountain soft drinks, often offering a profit margin of 80-82%, establishments tend to offer free refills as a sales gimmick. Coffee produces a similar high profit margin, allowing establishments to include coffee in free refill offers. Most of these establishments have fast customer turnover, thus customers rarely consume enough beverage to make the offering unprofitable. Some establishments, who make their primary income with beverage sales, only offer free refills to members of rewards programs.
Bars in the United States often do not charge designated drivers for soft drinks, including refills.
United States
In certain areas of the United States, such as Massachusetts and New York, politicians have proposed banning free refills as a move against obesity.
When New York City banned sugary drinks over 16 ounces in 2012, critics faulted free refills as one of the ban's biggest weaknesses.
In June 2012 Cambridge, Massachusetts, mayor Henrietta Davis unsuccessfully proposed banning soft drink refills.
France
The French government is another critic of free refills, due to health concerns about obesity. France created a tax on sugary drinks in 2011. In September 2014, Serge Hercberg, head of France's National Nutrition and Health Programme, stated that free refills of sugary drinks should be banned. In January 2017, a law was passed banning the unlimited sale of sodas and other sugary drinks at all public eateries.