McDonald's One Dollar Drinks Review

If you haven't noticed while driving into your local McDonald's parking lot, the company is selling any size drink for a dollar. It is rumored that McDonald's will continue this deal throughout the summer. (at participating locations)

Soda drinkers nationwide just breathed a exasperated sigh of pleasure.

It is definitely a good deal compared to their normal price for their drinks. Next to movie theaters and sporting events, fast food restaurants charge more for their soda than any other retailer. A large Coke will run you over 2 dollars with tax at a local McDonald's.

Unfortunately, this is not the best deal in town by a long-shot. Just this morning, I passed about 4 or 5 gas stations advertising a 44 oz soda for 79 cents. Tell me you're seeing the same thing?

McDonald's and the gas stations running this deal are smart little bastards. Let's say you only want a soda. You pull into the McDonald's for a large diet coke. In the drive-thru, you're bombarded with pictures of food that you've never seen at McDonald's. Oh, they may call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese, and you've bought one before, but it looked nothing like the picture. The picture shows a fluffy bun, burger hanging over the sides, and cheese perfectly melted. It's a picture that the Carl's Jr. advertisers would be love.

The reality when you buy one, is that the paper is dripping grease on your pants, the (meat?) patty looks like it was thrown like a Frisbee onto the bun, and sauces and onions are spattered randomly on all sides of the burger. Instead of lunch, you get a quarter pounder with cheese grease bath.
I digress.

Suffice it to say, there is a 6% chance that you'll pull away from the McDonald's with only a drink. Odds are good that you'll be sporting a 6-piece nuggets, or a double chee.

The gas stations aren't much better. Do you know where the soda machines are in the store? Try the back...the way back. They want you to pass every beef jerky, sunglasses rack, and energy drink display on the way to your 79 cent soda. Do you realize that a regular candy bar in a gas station was $1.09 on my last trip? To satisfy your Twix craving, you'll have to drop a couple bucks. Give me a break.
There is a 14% chance you'll walk out with only a soda. Most likely, you'll have a pack of sixlets or pickle flavored sunflower seeds at your side.

So, which is the lesser evil?

I have your answer right here.

At McDonald's, you'll have some unknown drive-thru attendant hand you a soda the instant you pull up to the window. What took place in the lifetime of this soda before you received it? Here's a likely scenario:

Drive-thru attendant found something sticky on the bottom of their shoe. They use their hands to pry the unwanted piece of gum from their sole. The same unwashed hand is used to grab your cup when you order a large root beer. Your cup is promptly dropped on the floor where swine flu lives as a thriving colony. The attendant picks up the cup, and blows off any stray lint. You now have spittle on the lip. Roughly 43 oz of ice is placed into the 44 oz cup, and it is placed under the automatic drink dispenser. The dispenser fills up the cup with foam which pours down all sides of the cup. After the foam subsides, you have a 11 oz of soda in the cup. The sticky, wet cup is given to you as you pull up to the window. You curse out loud as root beer from the sides of the cup run down your arm. Enjoy your dollar drink. (plus tax)

At least in the gas station, you can regulate the soda/ice ratio. Germs can also be contained to a minimum. Beware of the "debit card button machine." This contraption alone carries 46 different species of harmful bacteria.

Is the dollar drink at McDonald's worth the price? If you go here regularly, then it would be. Just be prepared to also drive away with a Big Mac and large fry at the same time.
I suggest the Sonic half-price drinks between 2-4 pm every day.

McDonald's dollar drinks slurp their way to a 2-star rating. Enjoy the nuggets!!