We warned you. Now, it’s here. The Dunkin’ mega-beverage-bucket is available across the chain, just in time to slake the deepest summer thirsts. But have you considered the implications of consuming all that liquid in one sitting?
Fill ’em with any Dunkin’ Beverage you like…
Dunkin’ premiered its humongous 48 oz beverage Buckets in what the chain calls a ‘record-breaking’ test market program in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Buckets sold out in a flash even at the price of $12.99 (filled with your choice of any Dunkin’ iced beverage, including custom drinks).
They’re back for a limited time right now, in very limited quantities. Each Dunkin’ location has been allotted only 25 buckets – with coordinated monster straws.
Bigger is… bigger…
The previous record-holder for largest Fast Food drink tub was SONIC, which launched a 44 oz cold drink container as part of its Route 44 promo.
“The Route 44 size was created to give guests a larger drink to enjoy while they’re on the go,” a SONIC spokesperson told Allrecipes. “The name is a nod to the drink’s 44 oz size, and Sonic’s drive-in her-itage.”
Allrecipes Courtney Kassell opines: “I love when any fast food chain pushes the boundaries and leans into the absurdity of a trend. And the Dunkin’ bucket is essentially a punchline to the question of how far a “value size” can go.”
How much IS 48 oz?
In the greater scheme of tings, it’s a little more than half the daily amount of water the average adult is supposed to consume in any given day. But that total includes the water you get from all bever-ages, fruits and veggies, soups and stews, and other ‘moisture-containing’ foods you eat or drink.
One intrepid dietician challenged herself to drink the ‘regulation’ 92 oz of water each day for a week. And she guzzled that down on top of her other water sources, from foods.
Drought or consequences?
If you choose to pump yourself full of fluids to ensure you won’t get dehydrated in the searing sum-mer heat, take note: There are real consequences to drinking too much water. The condition is called ‘water intoxication’, and it can manifest as:
- Nausea, vomiting, bloating.
- Moderate to severe headache, muscle cramps/weakness, fatigue.
- Severe confusion, seizures, coma, and fluid accumulation in lungs or legs.
- In extreme cases, water intoxication can even be fatal…
Not to mention caffeinated bevs…
A 48 oz tub of iced coffee could contain as much as 600 mg of caffeine. The total daily recommended ‘safe’ dose of caffeine is just 400 mg. And keep in mind that 48 0z of iced tea could also run you up well over the official ‘limit’.
My take
The Dunkin’ 48 oz bev Bucket is a notable promotional stunt. But it does have some definite draw-backs in actual use. To my surprise, To my surprise, I DO get the recommended 92 oz every day. And more! And a significant proportion of it from ‘hidden’ sources such as fruits and veggies.
I’ll stick to regular-sized beverages, and limit my fluid intake to 8 oz / 355 ml ‘doses’. According to the experts, it’s best to take additional fluids for hydration a little at a time, to avoid waterlogging or bloating…
~ Maggie J.