The pros and cons of a beverage fountain

The beverage fountain first gained popularity in the 1800s when people began drinking soda water for pleasure instead of as medicine. With this change of taste came the change of the beverage fountain which became a "showy marble monument befitting its status as a fashionable social center." In the 70s, the beverage fountain changed again into the more utilitarian fixture found fast food restaurants.

Pros

Space By having the beverages in a beverage fountain instead of in individual bottles, you are able to take up less space for storage in a restaurant. The drink fountain can have beverages that are pre-mixed or mixed easily in large reservoirs inside the machine. Employee benefits Having a punch or beverage fountain is a benefit to the employee as a fountain requires less work on the employee's part. The employee will no longer have to lift and carry the often heavy stacks of bottled or canned beverages. Since the customer fills and refills his or her own drink, the employee does not have to do this job as well. Costs The overall cost of running a beverage fountain is less than supplying a restaurant with bottled or canned beverages. The cost of the drink mixes and supplies for the machine represent a potential for profit. This can allow the restaurant to charge more than the pennies it took to make each drink, as well as not lose money when the customer refills his or her cup.

Cons

Contamination In January 2010, the International Journal of Food Microbiology reported that nearly "half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria, which could indicate possible fecal contamination." During the course of the investigation, the authors of the article found that
"antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli [were] in the soda samples." Lack of cleanliness In order to prevent contamination in beverage fountains, it is necessary to follow certain standards. Proper cleaning of the waste lines are required to keep the proliferation of bacteria down. Employees must properly wash their hands before servicing the machine. Using a wet rag to clean the beverage fountain should also be discouraged as it can help to contaminate the contents of the machine.