The syrup in a $3 glass of restaurant cola costs what - maybe a penny or two? So that they charge the same for bubbly seltzer water isn't really that extraordinary - but I completely understand the thought! I've been a seltzer drinking fool for years. I didn't purchase it very often at the grocery store - because it's just soda water! So when the soda stream came out, I bought one almost immediately. I never buy the flavorings, just make seltzer at home. You can buy the CO2 refills cheap, if you turn in an empty cannister.

Then...

LaCroix hit my area. I was familiar with LaCroix, we had it where I went to Unversity two decades ago. My wife tried one, and fell in love. Ok, it is a bit better than home-made seltzer with a few drops of lemon juice, but shit. I didn't buy flavored, or plain soda water for years and years just because. Now my wife's in love with LaCroix. I gave some her some light hearted shit about it, she thought about it, and said I was right. So she gave up her premium blend coffee to make up for the price.