Ice Cream Soda Etiquette

The perfect utensil for simultaneously eating and drinking ice cream sodas or ice cream “floats.”— Antique‘Stroons”  or combination “Straw Spoons” in sterling silver, with heart shaped bowls shown on the right, next to a patent for a similar straw and spoon from 1901 on the left. The proper etiquette is to eat the “solid food”or ice cream, first. Then drink the remaining liquid and melted ice cream in your glass. 
— Images from “Reaching for the Right Fork… the etiquette and evolution of tabletop utensils”

An Unsolved Problem

To the Editor of The New York Times:

In my letter printed in ‘The Times’ of Aug. 27 regarding the matter of drinking or eating ice cream soda, I simply mentioned the matter of soup in an incidental way.

It has amused me to see that all the replies relate to soup. There is no ground for argument on this point. We all know that it is a rule of etiquette to say we eat soup.

The problem remains, however, whether to eat or drink ice cream soda. The authorities on etiquette have not as yet taken up this point, and it is time that they did. True, the matter is not vitally important, but just the same it should not remain unsettled.

What I want to know is when I lead a friend to the soda fountain, can I make him drink or has it got to be eat an ice cream soda? —Thomas A. Wilson, New York, Sept. 1, 1933, The New York Times

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia