Coffee drinkers opting for a more compassionate cappuccino will no longer be forced to pay extra for soy, oat, almond, or coconut milk at Starbucks. The coffee giant has finally ended its practice of upcharging for nondairy drinks at stores in the U.S. and Canada — as the company announced in a press release. Starbucks had already stopped charging extra for nondairy drinks in the U.K., France, and Germany.
This news means that customers could now pay roughly 10% less than they were previously spending on the same drink.
Customers have been fighting Starbucks over the extra charge for years. Celebrities have also gotten involved: Sir Paul McCartney and Alan Cumming previously wrote letters to the CEO bringing attention to the animal cruelty and environmental damage dairy causes, and actor James Cromwell glued his hand to a Starbucks counter in protest.
Starbucks has acknowledged that dairy products are its most significant contributor to carbon emissions, producing approximately three times as many emissions as plant-based milk. Dairy also uses more land and water.
Starbucks has even been faced with a lawsuit over the nondairy surcharge. The plaintiffs alleged that Starbucks discriminates against people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies by charging an “excessively high” surcharge — up to 80 cents per drink — for nondairy substitutes. Because lactose intolerance is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the plaintiffs alleged that Starbucks violated the ADA. A similar lawsuit was also filed against another coffee company — Dunkin’.
Lady Freethinker encourages everyone to opt for compassionate plant-based milks instead of dairy to avoid supporting the cruel practices of the dairy industry. The tragic reality is cows don’t produce milk if they’re not pregnant. Not only are cows forcibly impregnated on dairy farms, but calves are rapidly removed from their mothers so that the milk can be used. Mother cows can be heard crying out for their missing baby. Male calves are often quickly killed after being separated from their mother.
Lady Freethinker commends everyone who raised their voice to end the upcharge for more sustainable and compassionate plant-based milks — and ultimately helped make this an issue that Starbucks could no longer ignore.
