The days of self-serve soda machines and free refills at McDonald’s may soon be a thing of the past. According to a recent Marketplace report, McDonald’s is planning to phase out its self-serve soda machines by 2032, giving individual locations the option to charge for refills.

Some McDonald’s outlets have already started removing the self-serve beverage machines, leading customers to take notice. The introduction of self-serve soda machines by McDonald’s in 2004 aimed to enhance the dining experience by allowing guests to serve themselves.

Experts cited various reasons for this shift, including concerns about theft, the space occupied by the machines, and McDonald’s renewed focus on providing a more ‘relaxed dine-in experience,’ which involves servers bringing meals to the table. Additionally, the maintenance and cleaning of self-service soda machines are considerable tasks that require attention.

Customer apprehension about germs and viruses, particularly in high-touch areas like soda machines, has been heightened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This concern has contributed to the reconsideration of self-serve options in dining establishments.