It's understandable that with the current state of the economy, every penny counts for many businesses. Food prices have certainly increased, and wasting as little food as possible has become a priority. However, money concerns haven't stopped restaurant establishments from creating affordable and interesting menus. For example, Taco Bell's 79,89, and 99 cent offerings are the epitome of fast food. Never mind the fact that Taco Bell has been extensively criticized for the quality of the meat it uses or the questionable nutritional quality of the food itself. It's just surprisingly addictive.
Taco Bell: a virtual Mecca for "Mexican" food enthusiasts. The recent addition of "platters" to the menu makes the endless combination of tortillas, beef, beans, sauce and cheese even more exciting. The employees can make tacos within seconds. Their kitchen is equipped with some of the most technologically advanced tools of the trade. Case in point: the sour cream gun.
One particular quirk of Taco Bell, however, lies in its policy regarding serving cups of water to customers. After ordering and paying for a Beef Soft Taco Platter, I asked for a glass of water. Much to my surprise, I was told that I had to pay 5 cents. This transaction required me to pay with a dime and get a nickel back-an experience that I've never had before. I was handed a small cup of water with a lid that had been pre-made and was sitting in a cooler.
What's the world coming to if Taco Bell feels the need to charge for a cup of water? What was my 5 cents really paying for? The plastic cup or the production of the ice maybe? It could have been the intense manual labor it took to fill that cup with water and place a lid on it. Either way, I was dumbfounded when the cashier handed me the receipt for the exchange.
Placing a monetary value on water is considerably important in some situations, but in the context of a restaurant it seems almost ridiculous. Especially in a fast food establishment where advertising touts slogans about getting the most value for your dollar, it seems counterintuitive to be charged for a glass of water. Even in sit-down restaurants, water comes free of charge.
Theoretically, if I didn't have 5 cents to pay for the water in this situation, would it be ethical for Taco Bell to deny me water? As a basic human necessity, water should be accessible to any person at any time. It's not morally considerate to charge for a resource so vital to survival.
Perhaps making customers pay for cups of water is a relatively new policy, considering the economic challenges businesses are currently facing. As an article in the St. Petersburg Times (July 2008 "Feeling the bite, restaurants add small fees, limit portion") described, many restaurants across the country are increasing their prices for fries, extra sauce and even the addition of lettuce, tomato and onion to entrees. The article contains a quote for consideration: "'My sense is that people don't like to be nickeled and dimed,' said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg. 'You invite trouble.' Brown said the restaurants 'are facing higher costs. The question is, can they pass those higher costs on?'"
The conundrum business owners are facing places customer comfort and convenience against the harsh reality of the bottom line. There is a cruel balance that has to be maintained in order to secure a loyal customer base and continue to financially uphold an enterprise. It's just unexpected when it shows up on your Taco Bell bill for a 7 oz. glass of water.
