Controversy Over Starbucks Free Milk Service
Some Parents Use It for Their Children's Drinks
"The Company Says It's Okay" vs "Potential for Abuse"
Recently, a heated debate has erupted among netizens on social networking services (SNS) regarding the widely known "Starbucks free milk tip" as a "useful advice."
On the 4th, posts summarizing the 'Starbucks free milk service' appeared on online communities, SNS, and mom cafes, sparking controversy. Even if customers order drinks without milk, they can receive up to 100㎖ of milk upon individual request to the staff. This milk, served in a small cup, is used to make a 'White Americano' by pouring it into an Americano after drinking some, or to add milk to an espresso according to personal preference.
However, the tip became controversial when it was revealed that some parents use this service to give milk to their children. On the 3rd of last month, an online community user A posted, "Some people criticize parents who get free milk from Starbucks to give to their children as beggars," adding, "In this era of low birth rates, such harsh criticism is too much."
On the social media platform Instagram, several short-form videos tagged with 'Starbucks free milk service' showed parents visiting Starbucks and giving free milk to their children. User B, who posted one of the videos, said, "Sharing a tip when visiting a cafe with children. Try requesting milk for kids who don't drink beverages well," adding, "Starbucks provides milk for free. It's perfect for feeding children."
Netizens who saw this expressed reactions such as, "The world is really harsh for children," "It's free to use, so what's the problem?" "If Starbucks says it's okay, just leave it alone. I don't understand why people who didn't even pay are making a fuss," "It seems society is too harsh by labeling people as troublemakers," and "Wasn't Starbucks a place where you could just sit without ordering?"
On the other hand, some netizens responded, "The original purpose is to add a little milk to customers' coffee, so abusing it is a nuisance," "Many cafes nowadays require one drink per person due to difficulties, and free services being abused could cause harm," and "There will be people who take advantage of free offerings."
IKEA, Costco, and Others... Companies Struggling with Free Service Issues
Previously, Starbucks had placed milk in thermos flasks at the condiment bar for customer convenience until 2017, regularly replenishing fresh milk. However, due to quality control issues related to temperature rise, the free milk service was discontinued.
Afterward, the method changed to providing milk only upon direct request to staff. Some people mistakenly believed the service had disappeared because the milk was no longer placed out, but recently it became a hot topic on SNS that milk can still be provided.
Starbucks is not the only company that has faced controversy over free services. In 2015, IKEA Gwangmyeong faced criticism when the free pencils provided to customers disappeared. Online, the phenomenon of people taking large quantities of free pencils was dubbed 'pencil beggars.'
Also, Costco used to provide free onions to customers who ordered hot dogs at the food court, but in 2019, the policy changed to limit the amount provided. This was because many people started taking onions home in personal containers.
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