1) Why do the traffic signals in Toronto flash green when the light changes?

2) Why can't you find unsweet tea in most Canadian restaurants (and why do most restaurants charge for refills?)

3) Why are canned softdrinks ("pop") more common than fountain service in Toronto restaurants?

I had a great time.

1. it's indicating an advance left turn on green (instead of an arrow). Cheaper than installing a four lamp signal. Gradually being phased out by LED 4 lamp assemblies.

2. Brewed tea is typically hot in Canada because of the colder climate and the British heritage. Sweetened teas are popular because of the ease of marketing powdered instant sweetened tea.

3. Pre-mixed fountain packaging (in 18L cannisters) is being phased out by the bottlers in favor of post-mix fountain packaging (higher margins and easier to distribute). Post-mix packaging (plastic bladders of syrup) requires more complex CO2 dispensers and water lines that many facilities are not properly equipped to handle. As well, the local water lines may create sensory issues from residual minerals and organics with the fountain soda that canned or bottled soda do not have.

Glad you had a great time.

1) Interesting. It did not seem that the flashing period was of sufficient length for allowing more than 1 or 2 cars to pass on a protected left.

2) I think that you are right..it is cultural. When I tried to order unsweet tea, I was told that all tea is served "Canadian Style" (ie lots of sugar).

3) I don't know about all of this pre-mix stuff. The same issues exist here in the states and no one seems to be bothered. Canned drinks as restaurant fare are extremely rare in this part of the world. The fast food restaurants do much better installing a self serve fountain and charging $1.29 for a 375ml drink. Refills are gratis. The direct cost to the eatery is probably 3-4 cents. The mark-up is fantastic. I did not check out the free standing fast food places but the food court restaurants that I saw seem to offer the canned drinks.

Be warned! If you see this in Vancouver, do NOT turn left. I found out that it just indicates an intersection where one way has traffic lights, and the cross street has stop signs.

(...?!)

sorry, I was referring to the bottler's profit margins. Individual packaged servings are typically higher margin than the bulk syrup sales.

The biggest challenge still rests with the fact that most eateries are not set up to dispense a mix of syrup/CO2/water as the mixing equipment (usually provided by the bottler through an equipment licensing agreement which the establishment probably isn't willing to shell out monthly for). The traditional "guns" that you see on a fountain head are probably hooked up to a pre-mixed cannister (where the syrup already has CO2 and water added). These are being gradually phased out by bottlers.

Syrup dispensing and fountain sales in Canada has really shifted to catering to the convenience stores and large volume sales. It can be very costly for small eateries to get the equipment required to dispense from a syrup bladder.

It's all in the blink frequency. If it blinks fast, it's an advance turning green.

2) I have heard a few waiters over the years recommend to American customers that they ask for 'cold tea' instead of 'iced tea.' Except at Asian restaurants during the summer months, I can't think of anywhere where I've even seen unsweetened iced tea featured or on a beverage listing though.

2) I'm not sure where you were eating, but refills are free at most mid-range sit down restaurants in Toronto. Some restaurants do charge but they are definitely the minority, in my experience. Fast food places, however, often do charge, but I don't think many people complain. Drink cups are big enough for most - it's what we're used to.

3) Again, I'm not sure where you were eating. In food courts you might see canned pop because of space restrictions or other considerations. Otherwise, it's almost always fountain pop. However, you'll find that many authentic Asian restaurants do serve cans because of a lack of demand to justify the fountains, and also because it's pretty much expected by customers in those establishments.

Most of my experience was with food court type restaurants and other fast food establishments at Eaton Centre (among other places). After a while, I gave up on the sit down restaurants and switched to water when my beverage of choice (unsweet tea) was unavailable. I did have to make do with canned soft drinks at a bar/restaurant on Dixie Road (don't remember name).

Had Alexander Keith for the first time at the Elephant and Castle. It was great but, unfortunately, refills were quite dear.

The weather in this part of the world (FL) is quite warm at this time of year It is not unusual for my wife and I to ask the witress to bring a pitcher of tea to the table. It is usually gone by the end of the meal.

Tnx for the tip about cold tea and Asian restaurants. I will try it on my next visit.