Questions for Non Americans (Americans can chime in too)
By Amber
@AmbiePam (121939)
United States
June 29, 2026 12:25pm CST
I’ve been watching videos from Europeans who are in America for the World Cup, and it’s been so encouraging to see how much people are enjoying their time here, saying it is nothing like their news media portrays it. One guy was so funny, and it made me curious about three things he wishes the U.K. did differently. The first one didn’t interest me (college sports are huge in America), but the other two were funny. He said he loves that banks have drive thrus in America. Is that not common in Europe? Secondly, free refills. Here, your (non alcoholic) drinks are refilled before you even have to ask. He said they make you pay for that at home. Another guy said he was surprised by the free chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants, but that was another video…
11 people like this
11 responses
@RasmaSandra (98568)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19h
I remember from a long time ago a comediran who was Russian Yakov Smirnof and gained fame in the 1970s. He said so many funny things like in America you can always find a party but in Russia the party comes to you.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169760)
• United States
19h
We have free things, but then we are expected to tip everywhere.
3 people like this
@Fleura (35426)
• United Kingdom
20h
No we don't have drive through banks, I would say that drive through anything isn't as common here as it is there, but maybe that's because I don't pay that much attention to drive through McDonald's or Costa coffee, for example. I have never once been to one.
And no we don't normally get free refills of drinks either. If you buy a mug of coffee, that's what you get.
As for free snacks, that's down to individual places. It isn't usual, but some places do put out free crisps, or nuts, or even roast potatoes!
3 people like this
@Fleura (35426)
• United Kingdom
11h
I lived in the US for three years. I could have written a book about all the little things that were different. I guess I still could except that that was 25 years ago and some of those things are not different any more because they have now come over here (like the drive-thru coffee and burger places).
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (11798)
• United Kingdom
15m
We don’t have drive thru banks in the UK . If we did I would still rather go into the branch .
There are some restaurant chains that do free refills but you initially pay more for it….you then refill when you wish. (for example if one glass of coca cola costs £2.50 ….a refillable would cost £4, then you refill as you wish )
I’ve not been to a Mexican restaurant so I don’t know what they do.
There are some restaurants here that give free bread while you wait for your meal….there may be a few little nibble bits in some places too.
1 person likes this
