text: I think this came up between Pepsi and Coke a while back -- where someone in one of the uniforms was drinking the soda of the other producer.  I can't remember now the outcome of it.\n\nHonestly, I think it's ridiculous.  I personally am not going to think poorly of a company whose employee I see being a consumer of a competing product.  When I worked as a professional cake decorator, I HATED smelling all the cookies and such that I worked around all day.  But I didn't have a problem grabbing a bag of oreos on my way out the store.  I can't imagine the things that a person sees in their own restaurant . . . even smelling it all day would be enough to cause me to want a change.  Even the Pepsi/Coke thing . . . that's almost a religious experience in the US.  No one could convert me to Pepsi.  Does that mean I'm going to stop drinking Coke when Pepsi offered me a killer employment deal?  Not on your life.\n\nOn the flip side, while it's a little far-fetched to think that one employee is going to change a consumer's mind, I think it's fair to ask employees to have a little respect for their employer by not participating in a competitor's business while in uniform.  It comes down to the appearance thing.\n\nThough I have to admit that when it comes to cars, that's a little different.  I have often asked my car salesman what he drives and if he doesn't drive something he's selling, I ask why.  Sales as a whole though, is a little different than your run-of-the-mill employees.  If you don't believe in the product and use it - why should I?