Quick Answer
Yes, McDonald’s still offers $1 Coca-Cola as part of their Dollar Menu deals. The $1 Coke promotion has been a staple of McDonald’s value menu for over 30 years. While prices have increased over time, McDonald’s has continued to offer a 12 oz fountain drink for just $1 on their Dollar Menu. Customers can get a $1 Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or other soft drink options at participating McDonald’s locations.
When did McDonald’s start $1 drinks?
McDonald’s first introduced their $1 soft drink promotion back in 1986. This was part of their initial value menu, which offered a selection of food items for just $1 each. The $1 soft drinks proved hugely popular among customers seeking affordable fast food meal options.
At the time, soft drinks typically sold for $1.29 to $1.59 at most restaurants and fast food chains. So McDonald’s $1 soft drink deal was a big draw for budget-conscious diners. The $1 soft drinks remained a staple of McDonald’s Dollar Menu for over 30 years.
Why does McDonald’s sell $1 drinks?
There are a few key reasons why McDonald’s sells $1 soft drinks:
Drive Sales –
The $1 soft drinks bring customers into McDonald’s restaurants. Even if they purchase more expensive items, the $1 drink helps drive overall sales volume.
Upsell Opportunity –
McDonald’s makes higher profits when customers upgrade to a large soft drink for just a small upcharge. The $1 drink gets them in the door to potentially upsell.
Competitive Advantage –
The $1 soft drink promotion gives McDonald’s a marketing edge over competitors. Customers know they can get a guaranteed cheap drink at McDonald’s.
Profit Margins –
Despite the low $1 price point, McDonald’s still makes good profit on fountain soft drinks. The syrup concentrate is inexpensive and a small 12 oz serving size limits product costs.
What soft drinks are $1 at McDonald’s?
Here are the standard $1 soft drink options at McDonald’s currently:
| Soft Drink | Size |
|---|---|
| Coca-Cola | 12 oz |
| Diet Coke | 12 oz |
| Sprite | 12 oz |
| Fanta Orange | 12 oz |
| Hi-C Orange | 12 oz |
| Barq’s Root Beer | 12 oz |
Regional locations may also offer other $1 drink options like Dr Pepper, Mello Yello, and Powerade. The $1 price applies to the 12 oz small size fountain drink.
Does McDonald’s still have $1 any size drinks?
McDonald’s discontinued their popular $1 Any Size soft drink promotion in 2017. Previously, customers could get a small, medium or large soft drink of any variety for just $1.
But offering $1 drinks in sizes up to 42 oz was seen as unsustainable. McDonald’s was losing profits on the promotion. So now only the 12 oz small size soft drinks are $1. Medium and large drinks cost more based on local prices.
Why did McDonald’s get rid of $1 large drinks?
There were a few factors that led McDonald’s to end their $1 Any Size drink deal:
Lost Profits –
McDonald’s was losing money selling large soft drinks for $1. The food costs were too high to sustain profits.
Health Concerns –
Public health advocates criticized McDonald’s for promoting sugary 42 oz soft drinks for only $1. This contributed to unhealthy overconsumption.
Franchisee Feedback –
McDonald’s franchise owners complained the $1 large drink promotion was damaging to their bottom lines. They pressured corporate to end the deal.
Upselling Strategy –
McDonald’s wanted to upsell more medium and large soft drinks at full price for increased revenue. The $1 any size deal limited upsell potential.
Does McDonald’s have any drink deals now?
While the $1 any size drink deal is gone, McDonald’s does still offer some drink discounts and coupons:
– Value drink menu – 12 oz soft drinks for $1
– Happy Meal drink – Included with kids Happy Meal
– Medium drink coupons – Periodic deals for $1 medium soft drinks
– McDonald’s app deals – Mobile app coupons for discounted drinks
– Promotional discounts – Limited time drink discounts, e.g. Any Size for $1 during summer
But the discounts and coupons now offer much less of a bargain compared to the previous $1 any size drink promotion.
How much is a large Coke at McDonald’s?
The price for a large Coca-Cola at McDonald’s today averages around $1.79 nationwide. However, McDonald’s soft drink prices can vary by location:
| City | Large Coke Price |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1.99 |
| Chicago | $1.79 |
| Houston | $1.69 |
| Philadelphia | $1.89 |
| Phoenix | $1.59 |
| San Antonio | $1.69 |
| San Diego | $1.79 |
| Dallas | $1.79 |
So while McDonald’s has moved away from $1 large soft drinks, prices remain reasonable at just $1.59 to $1.99 based on location.
Does McDonald’s have a senior drink discount?
Yes, McDonald’s offers senior citizens discounted drink prices as part of their everyday senior discount policy. People ages 55 and older can get a small McCafe or soft drink for just $0.65. This senior drink discount is available at participating McDonald’s locations all day long.
Seniors just have to request the senior drink price at the register. They may need to show ID as proof of age to redeem the senior drink discount. McDonald’s also has senior discounts on coffee and other menu items. So seniors can get a great deal on drinks and food at McDonald’s.
Does McDonald’s have drink specials?
McDonald’s runs periodic drink specials and happy hour promotions that offer discounted beverages for a limited time:
– Summer Drink Days – During summer, McDonald’s sometimes offers $1 Any Size soft drinks or $0.79 medium drinks.
– Happy Hour – Select locations offer $1 small McCafe drinks like smoothies, shakes, and frappes during afternoon happy hours.
– Mobile App Deals – McDonald’s mobile app will offer deals like buy one get one free McCafe drinks or $1 large soft drinks.
– Local Promotions – Individual McDonald’s franchises may run regional drink discounts based on local demand.
– Holiday Offers – Seasonal promotions like $0.99 hot chocolate during the holidays or $1 iced tea in summer.
So while the everyday dollar drink deals are gone, McDonald’s does still run rotating drink specials throughout the year.
Does McDonald’s accept competitor drink coupons?
Unfortunately, McDonald’s locations do not accept or honor competitor soft drink coupons. For example, they won’t accept Burger King or Wendy’s drink coupons. McDonald’s only redeems coupons from their own corporate marketing campaigns and app deals.
Some competitor QSR brands do allow rival restaurant coupons. However, McDonald’s does not participate in this reciprocal coupon policy. The franchise cites potential profit losses as the reason. So customers cannot use or expect McDonald’s to accept other brands’ soft drink coupons.
Conclusion
McDonald’s dollar menu has changed over the years as prices and profits fluctuated. But the popular $1 small soft drink has remained a constant affordable option for over 30 years now. Customers can still count on grabbing a 12 oz fountain Coke, Diet Coke, or other drink for just a buck. While the amazing $1 any size promotion is gone, McDonald’s still offers the best value on soft drinks versus competitors. Between the $1 small drinks and periodic discounts, budget-savvy customers can still find good drink deals at McDonald’s. The $1 Coke and other value priced beverages remain a staple of the McDonald’s menu.