On the drive home from Blacksburg today, I stopped in Woodstock, VA, to get a bite to eat. I pulled into the McDonald's located just off of Interstate 81 and headed inside. At the counter, I ordered a #4 Value Meal (two cheeseburgers, fries, and a drink), paid my $5.16, got my cup, and walked over to the soft drink station to get some lemonade.
As I was getting my drink, I noticed the sign taped to the soda dispenser: "No refills after leaving McDonald's. If you leave and re-enter, you must purchase another soda." I'd never seen anything like it before.
I know that times are tough but I didn't realize it had gotten so bad that people were holding on to their soda cups and coming back to McDonald's day after day to get their refills. I can understand why that would be a problem for the local McDonald's franchisee in Woodstock, VA. But, I have to admire the creativity of the locals who had taken the whole "free refill" thing to heart.
In any event, I saved my drink cup. I just won't be using it in Woodstock.