by Meghan Mitchell '23 on September 29, 2022
Opinion Staff
Campus
Providence College’s on-campus bar, McPhail’s, is known among students for many great qualities, including its milkshakes, popcorn, and Thursday night bingo. The bar’s traditions are staples of the student experience. One perk many students neglect to realize that soda is free as well…or, at least, it used to be. During the first month of the semester, students have been charged one dollar for a soda at McPhail’s. While the price is not outrageous, why would McPhail’s start charging for soda now? Is free popcorn the next McPhail’s tradition to leave? Who knows?
Even though one dollar is certainly not excessive, free soda incentivizes students to switch their consumption away from alcoholic beverages, including beers such as Bud Light. Given that a significant portion of the undergraduate student body is under 21, prioritizing alternatives to liquor should be paramount. One student is upset that the establishment has eliminated a beloved “life hack.” The reasons behind the change are unknown. One can only hope McPhail’s will reinstate its old policy or provide an explanation as to why this change has occurred after so many years. While this may seem like a small issue, college students can easily be outpriced depending on their financial situations. For certain populations, one dollar does make a difference. As students who attend an expensive school, we deserve open communication about price increases.