It is commonly known (I think--at least, I know it) that the drinks are the source of profit in most fast-food establishments here in the U.S. I'm probably not the kind of customer they want, because I usually by a little sandwich and drink the bottle water I have with me that I filled in the tap. I drink a lot of pop at home, but only because I've bought it a lot less expensively. I stopped buying it from vending machines several years ago, when I realized that the dollar or two a day I was spending on soda could be better used to help a friend who was trying to recover his business after 9-11 (he lives in lower Manhattan). I've managed to continue that frugal practice for several years.

SRS