NEW YORK - In an effort to boost summer sales, McDonald??s is likely going to offer $1 fountain soft drinks for all cup sizes, reports the Wall Street Journal.

"McDonald's executives have been trying to sell franchisees on the offer at regional meetings. Coca-Cola Co. representatives have also pressed the case for $1 drinks at the meetings, according to two franchisees," writes the newspaper.

Taking a page from the convenience store playbook, "McDonald's hopes the promotion will steal customers from other fast-food chains and from other places where consumers buy drinks like 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores," writes the newspaper, adding that the QSR wants to become "a destination for buying beverages."

And McDonald??s is hoping the $1 promotion will do the trick. Franchisees say that this year??s $1 fountain drink promotion would run for 150 days come Memorial Day.

The newspaper notes that the QSR is also testing frozen lemonade and shakes "in a small number of stores." It recently boosted its beverage offer with the addition of fruit smoothies, frappes and of course the continued success of McCafé, which has boosted McDonald??s coffee sales to 5% of its total sales.

"McDonald's says its beverage play is paying off," writes the newspaper, adding that its "on track to top a goal of adding $125,000 a year in per-store sales by adding new beverages."

For more on convenience store fountain sales and trends, look for the upcoming April issue of NACS Magazine??s "Category Close-Up."