Alan Cumming blasts Starbucks Canada for charging vegans more

Feb 28 2021, 12:21 am

Alan Cumming has written an open letter to Starbucks Canada over the coffee chain’s practice of charging customers for non-dairy milk alternatives.

The vegan actor, who recently finished filming a new comedy series in Vancouver, sent his appeal to the company’s Senior Vice President on February 25.

“More than a year ago, Starbucks acknowledged that cow’s milk is the company’s biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions,” Cumming, an Honorary Director of PETA, wrote.

“Yet it continues to penalize customers for making green and humane choices by charging them extra for vegan milk. This also unfairly harms people who are lactose intolerant—most of whom are people of color.”

Adding dairy milk to a drink is free at Starbucks, but non-dairy alternatives, including oat, soy, and almond, each cost $0.95.

Cumming acknowledged the coffee house’s expansion of plant-based options, but argued that if it were serious about meeting its sustainability goals, the company would do away with the charge for “environmentally and animal-friendly vegan milk.”

“It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee,” Cumming wrote. “If Starbucks really wants to help the planet, it must do more than just talk about its goals. It’s time to take action.”

“The most responsible move would be to stop selling cow’s milk altogether, but at the very least, Starbucks can—and must—end the vegan milk upcharge.”

Daily Hive has reached out to Starbucks Canada and will update this story accordingly.

Zoe DemarcoZoe Demarco

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