Overview
- McDonald’s said Monday it will add refreshers and crafted sodas to all U.S. menus starting in May.
- An energy‑drink line is planned for later in 2026, with an August launch and a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- The chain intends to price the new drinks below Starbucks, Dutch Bros and Sonic as part of a broader value push to lift traffic.
- Franchisees have installed new mixing equipment, and McDonald’s says the high‑margin drinks are designed to be made fast without slowing service.
- The lineup draws on lessons from the CosMc’s pilot and tests in about 500 restaurants and targets younger customers who favor colorful “dirty sodas,” which are sodas mixed with flavored syrups or cream.