I'd like to make a defence for the publican regarding soft drink prices.

If you're a beer drinker and spend your whole evening in a pub, you may well drink 4,5,6 or more pints of beer.

If you are drinking soft drinks over the same period, you are very unlikely to drink more than a couple of pints of lemonade/lime and soda, or whatever. You are however making equal use of the premises, taking up a seat, using the toilets etc.

The publican isn't a charity. S/he has a business to run. Having a clientele who wish to sit all night with 2 glasses of reasonably priced orangeade will be a sure way to bankruptcy for the publican.

Ed