By Clark 
Prepare yourselves, McDonald’s enthusiasts. The fast-food corporation is allegedly preparing to execute a significant nationwide alteration that will affect the manner in which clients obtain their soft beverages.
McDonald’s will eliminate self-serve beverage stations in its dining rooms throughout the United States, as reported by the quick-service restaurant publication QSR Web, referencing an email from a corporate spokesperson.
Customers will have plenty time to acclimate to the change, as the transition is expected to be finalized by 2032, around nine years from now. However, the elimination of self-serve drink stations would result in fans losing a longstanding element that has become emblematic of the McDonald’s dining experience.
Conversely, the elimination of self-serve stations is unlikely to significantly affect customers who generally place orders via the drive-thru or the McDonald’s app, as personnel prepare beverages for these orders.
According to QSR Web, the modification seeks to establish a more uniform experience for McDonald’s employees and customers, irrespective of the ordering method or location. The State Journal-Register, a local newspaper in Illinois, reported this week that certain retailers in the Midwestern state have commenced the implementation of the modification.
McDonald’s has announced other significant changes this year. In April, the chain announced the implementation of significant enhancements for its flagship burgers—the Big Mac, McDouble, classic cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, and hamburger.
The modifications encompass the utilization of softer toasted buns, frying onions directly on the burger patties for enhanced juiciness and caramelization, assuring optimal meltiness of the cheese, and increasing the quantity of the distinctive sauce in the Big Macs. McDonald’s intends to execute the enhancements at all establishments in the United States by 2024.
In late July, the chain unveiled plans for a novel restaurant concept dubbed after CosMc, a fictional six-armed extraterrestrial creature featured in advertisements during the 1980s and 1990s. During a July earnings call, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski informed investors that CosMc’s will be a “small format concept embodying all the essence of McDonald’s while possessing its own distinctive character.””They intend to evaluate the new restaurant brand at a select few locations within a restricted geographic area starting early next year,” Kempczinski stated.