PETA Activists Superglue Themselves To Starbucks Store To Protest Vegan Milk Surcharge
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PETA activists have glued themselves to a Starbucks counter in Seattle to fight the surcharge for vegan milk.
To commemorate Earth Day, Fox 13 reports that the animal rights activists hijacked the coffee franchise with T-shirts that read: "Not Your Mom, Not Your Milk."
We’re not going anywhere @Starbucks!
— PETA (@peta) April 20, 2022
Literally, we’re superglued to your counter 🥴https://t.co/i5ZLHifN6i pic.twitter.com/NzPTPRkW7i
Shortly after the protest began, police were called to the scene to remove the demonstrators.
Two protesters are now facing felony charges of theft and destruction of property, according to PETA.
Starbucks dropped the extra fee for plant-based milk in the UK in December last year.
Starbucks UK issued a statement that said: “Alongside the arrival of the new Oat platform, 2022 also sees Starbucks announce that from 5 January, it will no longer charge extra for any of its five dairy alternatives in any of its 1,020 UK stores.”
However, PETA wants the same policy extended to US stores as American customers still have to pay US 70 cents more for almond, soy, coconut and oat milk.
PETA even called out Starbuck's former CEO Kevin Johnson, who received a $60 million payout, that they said could have covered the 70 cent charge on vegan milk for more than 85 million drinks.
Starbucks gave @Kevin_Johnson a $60 million payout when he stepped down as CEO last month.
— PETA (@peta) April 20, 2022
That alone could’ve paid for 85,714,285 @Starbucks 70¢ upcharges on vegan milk.
They have the money to stop upcharging consumers!
Last year, PETA Honorary Director Alan Cumming wrote an open letter to the former Starbucks CEO urging his company to reduce its carbon footprint.
He wrote: “[I]t’s been over a year since your company acknowledged that cow’s milk is its biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions, yet you are still charging more for vegan milk.
"I’m urging you to put your words into action by dropping the surcharge on it.”
He added: “In response to the pandemic, many companies are attempting to become a greater force for good in the world, and people want to support responsible businesses that are making a genuine effort to combat climate change.”
As Howard Schultz steps in as the new CEO, News Nation reports that Sir Paul McCartney even demanded the mega coffee house support PETA’s campaign to ditch the surcharge.
“My friends at PETA are campaigning for this,” he wrote.
“I must say this surprised me as I understand that in other countries like U.K. and India, there is the same charge for both types of milk and I would like to politely request that you consider this policy also in Starbucks USA.”
He concluded the letter: “I sincerely hope that for the future of the planet and animal welfare you are able to implement this policy.”
