Drinking without counting is the formula offered by the fast-food chain Quick, which is gradually rolling out DrinQ Spots in most of its French establishments. For 2 euros or with the menu, customers can help themselves to unlimited sodas, iced tea, lemonade or water.
Imported from the United States, “free fill” already exists in KFC restaurants or even in the self-service outlets of IKEA stores, we learn today The Parisian. The leaders of Quick, themselves, are already rubbing their hands and do not hide the fact that this open bar is a real “lever of attractiveness”.
But “at a time when fast food chains (including Quick) are committed to making efforts by reducing fat or salt, the commercial orientation of the seller of Giant is out of place”, underlines the journalist, Vincent Mongaillard.
And the doctors are upwind. Questioned by the daily, Professor Serge Hercberg (1), research director at INSERM, is categorical: this system contributes to increasing “the nutritional divide”. For this specialist, “it is the most disadvantaged populations affected by obesity who are on the front line when faced with an unlimited supply of sodas”. The nutrition professor recalls that a liter of classic soda contains the equivalent of nearly 20 sugar cubes. An excess of calories that promotes overweight and obesity and, consequently, diabetes and hypertension.
At Quick, we want to be reassuring. One of its managers ensures that this system would only increase the quantities of drinks consumed by 10% and that excesses remain marginal. Even. For this business school student, this freedom to help himself is a real plus. But, he adds, “health at my age, you don’t think about it too much! »
(1) Professor Serge Hercberg chairs the National Health Nutrition Program (PNNS)
