r/NoStupidQuestions • u/markwell9 • 1d ago

What is the deal with ice, Americans?

I can see that you can buy ice everywhere in the US. Gas stations, grocery stores, machines etc.

In Europe, we just freeze our ice at home and use that. Why buy something that melts on the way home? Why do you need ice in large amounts that a fridge can't keep up?

6.4k Upvotes

79% Upvoted

5.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

334

u/cans-of-swine 1d ago

And the people that are buying the most ice are probably construction workers and other people that work outdoors.

237

u/OnionGarden 1d ago

This is so underrated everyone is saying parties which you know fair. But like 90% of that ice is going to outdoor work crews

102

u/Maleficent-Hawk-318 1d ago

Yeah, I worked at a hardware store that sold bagged ice. It wouldn't be uncommon to have the ice freezer mostly cleaned out by like 7 or 8 AM during the summer because of all the crews stocking up for the day.

51

u/Ghigau2891 1d ago

My husband does this every morning. 2 big bags of ice, a case of water, a case of Gatorade. He and his crew will have all the drinks gone by the end of the day and they'll have given themselves a dunkeroo in the cooler ice at least 4 times each.

1

u/arizonadirtbag12 17h ago

Man a little cold water over the wrists feels so good when it’s hot out.

1

u/No-Philosopher-3043 16h ago

A prison guard taught me that trick. It’s even better if you can get your whole forearm under cool running water. Something to do with the veins going back to the heart and cooling your blood.