The Light Ice Rule

Do you know about the “Light Ice” rule?

Neither did I, but McDonalds didn’t hesitate to tell me.

Going through the drive-thru, I ordered a sweet tea, light ice. Usually I ask for two cubes but i still end up with about ninety-two. Don’t these people know how to count? Why do I want a cup of all ice with three sips of drink? Or worse, a totally watered down drink within minutes on a thousand degree day.

So normally for a $1 drink, it shows up as $1.79 as the snooty voice on the speaker says, “Do you know about the light ice rule?”

“Um, no.”

“Well,” she says, “The drink comes as is. If you want light ice, then you pay full price.”

I didn’t think you could purchase an “as-is” product from a fast food place. Do they give warranty options too?

My first reaction was to laugh. This has gotta be a joke, right? I mean, you’re gonna charge me almost a dollar more to give me less ice cubes?

I have to think quick. Do I call her bluff?

“Just gimme the normal,” I say back in my best snooty voice. Two can play this game.

The price changes on the order screen to $1.

When I get my drink, it’s filled to the brim with ice and about two sips of tea. I had to completely resist the urge to fling cubes at Snooty Girl before driving away.

So, is this “Light Ice” rule practiced at McDonalds worldwide? Or was Snooty Girl just extremely bored and trying to enforce a non-exsistent rule purely for her entertainment benefit? Personally, I think she’s just an ice pusher.