Your Starbucks fix is going to cost you more: Prices going up about 3% starting July 31
SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. said today it was raising prices for its coffee and other freshly made drinks in most of its U.S. stores by 9 cents this month, citing rising costs, including dairy products, energy and fuel. In a statement issued after markets closed, Starbucks said the price hike will take effect July 31, bumping the cost of most drinks by about 3 percent.
Interesting, isn’t it? In an era of aggressive campaigning against the evils of drug use (Anyone catch those “before” and “after” pictures of meth addicts? That’ll put you off your feed….), somehow we never seem to see the same zeal applied to alcohol and caffeine. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining. While I don’t drink much, I’m one of the millions for whom a morning five-gallon bucket cup of coffee is not just a ritual but a prerequisite for continued functionality.
When you think about it, coffee companies really have a captive audience. With caffeine being the national drug of choice, Starbuck and other dealers purveyors of caffeinated goodness can charge just about anything…and we’ll pay it. Hey, it’s not like there’s another alternative out there. Coke? Please…. Tea? Do I look British? Chocolate? Only if I want to look like Michael Moore…. Let’s face it, America; there really is no viable alternative out there, and if you’re one of the snobs like me who refuses to drink swill like Folger’s and other canned caca…well, let’s just say that Abe Lincoln will be seeing the light of day a fair bit more often.
Then again, I don’t have anything to worry about, because I know I can quit any time I want to. I simply choose not to.
