Americans divided over whether Starbucks should serve beer and wine

In a scientific national telephone poll, Americans were asked:

Do you think that it is appropriate for Starbucks to serve beer and wine? Overall, 39% said yes, 39% said no, and 22% said they were undecided.

MORE SURVEY RESULTS:

Men and women disagreed in their responses, with men favoring Starbucks selling beer and wine 49%-34%, while women oppose it 45%-30%.

Among age groups: 18-29 year olds 44% yes, 32% no; 30-44 year olds 44% yes, 36% no; 45-64 year olds 39% yes, 39% no; 65+ year olds 26% no, 55% no.

Whites favor it 44%-38%, and blacks oppose it 58%-25%.

* Men, women at odds over Starbucks beer and wine

Comments

[Dan Kennedy]

I'm no teetotaler, but NO!

[Shan]

What Dan Kennedy said.

[Herman]

I'll drink to that!!

[Tall Blonde]

It seems like it would change the whole atmosphere to add beer and wine...and as a store manager it add a whole other layer of possible issues to deal with!

[informyourself]

Most who are against have no idea what they are against and don't realize either way, Starbucks is doing this, get over it! It's not a bar, it's a coffee shop. Learn what that means. I have yet to see a logical, informed objection. I've seen lots of objections based on assumptions.

[Jeff Tom]

I live in SEA and have been to a few of the mixed-drink places. I do not care one way or the other, but I really do not like the mix of "smells" you get with the drinks. Stale beer and wine have such a sour smell that is too different from the warmer smells of coffee (even cold coffee).

I also do not like that some people get a little drunk there and act like asses (moreso than usual).

But I do like the store layouts/the designs of the stores.

[b]

This was never and will never be a total national roll out. The regulations and training are far to cost prohibitive. A few select, appropriate stores around the country are all that will ever be seen...and good!

[Faith]

Thank you for sharing good articles

[The Moar You Know]

Starbucks does not and will not allow customers to be confronted or asked to stop unpleasant/harassing/aberrant/violent behavior. Serving alcohol, even beer and wine, under such limitations will, sooner or later, result in disaster.

[A Positive Partner]

We ask people to leave for unpleasant/harassing/aberrant/violent behavior nearly every day. It's called working in a downtown store in a city. If you aren't, then you are treating your other customers and partners disrespectfully. P&AP is quite clear on that.

[Waltie]

"Starbucks does not and will not allow customers to be confronted or asked to stop unpleasant/harassing/aberrant/violent behavior."

What the hell are you talking about?

[Melpomene]

Starbucks actually bends over backwards to do nothing to support their partners and then shuns managers that stick up for their partners. I actually had a gentleman throw an entire tall coffee at me and then was chewed out for not making him happy. PS--he threw the coffee at me before telling me in words like a human being that he didn't like it. My DM then tried to tell me it was my fault and then faulted me for stepping between a customer berating my partner aggressively and said partner. The customer apparently is always right--even when they are blatantly wrong. No wonder Sbux removed the respect and dignity line for partners from the mission statement a few years ago.

[A Positive Partner]

That is a terrible situation but I have never, in all my years with Starbucks heard of someone not be supported when harassed. I can assure you that P&AP would treat the situation quite differently than your dm did. Making the assumption that the company doesn't take care of it's partners just because your dm handled the situation badly is ridiculous.

[livin' la VIA loca]

Okay so I know this is off topic but (could be breaking news)...

Anyone else's store SELLING Pumpkin Spice & Carmel Brulee SYRUPS in bottles this weekend & pushing the sale of Gingerbread & Sugar Free Peppermint bottle Syrups w/$1 off specials per email directive from District Mgr???

[Melpomene]

Sorry Positive. I have over ten years of stories from managers around the country--we used to swap them like gum at leadership conferences. I kind of thought we stopped having those for awhile because SMs were discovering that a bad experience per quarter was more the norm than isolated incidents of that "one" notorious bad DM. I'm pretty sure that's why the company forced out a great deal of the old guard too--our memories are too long.

[otterinthewater]

I've been through a few DMs, and while a couple of them have sucked, not even those have objected to my store kicking people out if we point out the trouble customer was disturbing other folks "third place experience."

[Jeff Tom]

Hell, I have kicked out unruly/offensive/inconsiderate/drunk people from Starbucks, and I do not work for the company. Many stores seem to have a "ignore-it-and-it-will-go-away" attitude. But it annoys the hell out of us patrons and if the store will not do anything, and you can tell EVERYONE on the place is being inconvenienced, I have no qualms about driving the inconsiderate(s) out through confrontation/intimidation/outright hostility.

[Martha]

I'd love to see how long it would take the people buying alcohol to abuse the 'just say yes' policy...

[Siberiabux]

This just in via partner forum- Leadership conference in Houston, Texas October of this year!

[A Positive Partner]

Melpomene-
I have been around as long as you and I have a hard time believing that P&AP would allow that kind of treatment of partners. Anytime I have ever had an issue similar to that or one that has put a partner in harms way-either verbally or physically-they have always done everything to protect the partners. If you haven't involved them or partner resources then you are doing a disservice to yourself and your partners. The dm is not the final authority.

[Waltie]

"I have over ten years of stories from managers around the country--we used to swap them like gum at leadership conferences."

The fact that somebody tells a story doesn't make it true. And, no, no partner ever got yelled at for having scalding hot coffee thrown in their face. Didn't happen. Never gonna happen. Absolutely, 100%, not true.

Sorry.

[Sam Brown]

I can see it now: SB will all serve beer and wine; then, some innovator ? will open a -coffee only shop- and will be very successful.

[A Natural Blonde]

To Melpomene: Please outline the details of your story (or take just what you've entered here!) and with it, contact your Partner Resource Manager and P&AP. A Positive Partner and Waltie are absolutely correct. Nobody can say there are no instances of SMs and DM mistakes, even bad judgements.

And within the follow-up discussion coaching you received, is it possible you were just asked 'do you see anything you could have done differently', as a genuine question of IF and how the scenario could have been averted? So seldom, really, does the coffee toss caliber rage come from nowhere. Its a legitimate question and non judgemental. Just be open to that.

I for one don't believe this went down like you say. I think there's more, I'm really sure there's more to it. But if it did - hell even if it didn't - air it up. If what you're saying is true, the DM will be corrected. A good Partner would consider it a responsibility to be sure no other Partner is ever so unreasonably and unfairly treated. We're better than that. We, being the operative term.

[A Natural Blonde]

...sorry. I apparently cut last of my first paragraph. so...

While anybody can make a bad decision, the Retail and PR leadership would never allow this DMs judgement go uncoached and corrected. But they don't know what they don't hear. And talking about it here won't make a difference.

[Melpomene]

I love how the truth of the actual operations in a store brings out the SBUX police...I have often said that Waltie was a troller but I guess the truth brings out the PR police from all corners.
Sorry kids. Hate to tell you this but it is actually true, SBUX does not have your back. Does not have SMs back. It only covers its own tookus. And as for business practice--that is just a crock. They always say they will investigate and it never comes to anything. I have sent at least a hundred former partners there who have transfered or been promoted into other stores. It always works out the same way. The only time it matters is when they sue for wrongful termination and that record is brought out. As for the hot coffee incident. It happened. My DM was right there. If you want to live with permanent SBUX rose-coloured glasses thats fine. I used to drink that caffienated Kool-aid too. But its going to suck for you all when you realize all SBUX cares about is profit, all the rest is BS to con us into preaching onward and inducting new members.
Thank goodness I got a big girl job this week and put in my two weeks. I am delighted. My DM is delighted. My RD, my regular customers and my partners are in mourning. But I am sure Waltie and the rest of the SBUX PR machine will cheer.

[Waltie]

I'm sorry, but I simply don't believe you. The fact that you think I'm a troll who works for the PR department demonstrates your complete lack of relationship with the real world. Sorry, but this didn't happen the way you claim it did. You may think you're telling the truth, of course, but that's another matter all together.

I'm glad you're happy at your new job.