Now Accepting Food Stamps: Starbucks

This was an issue that was a subject of controversy in a town close to me. Alot of people were complaining about being able to buy doughnuts from a local doughnut shop using food stamps because it was a "luxury". The subject became rather heated.

At the price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks, I would personally feel that this would be a "luxury' item. I think this is an important subject to discuss.

madamenoire.com...

A tall, skinny Frappuccino with a shot of espresso and light foam is a luxury item most middle-class working folks don’t indulge in on a daily basis, so the fact that the notoriously expensive coffee chain is accepting food stamps in some of its outlets has more than a few people upset.

A Fox News 12 investigation revealed that food stamps could be used to buy a $5.25 tall Frappaccino and a slice of pumpkin bread from a branch of Starbucks in Salem, OR, and taxpayers are outraged at the “misuse” of their money which is intended to buy necessities like bread and milk, not fancy morning beverages.

A spokesperson for the Safeway store where the food stamps were accepted in Starbucks, told Fox the store made the change as an added convenience to customers.

According to guidelines from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food stamps cannot be used to buy hot foods or foods that will be eaten in the store. A spokesperson for the State Department of Human Services said they weren’t aware of the loophole in the program and they would contact the grocery stores to get more information and make sure they are operating within the SNAP guidelines. If they are, I guess it’s a win for Oregon Trail users in the city.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

'Luxury' sugar-filled goods such as $5 Starbucks coffees and cakes are being purchased using food stamps, an investigation has revealed.

The tokens which are given to those living in poverty can be used to buy premium drinks and expensive snacks from the premium coffee chain, it has emerged.

The revelation has caused outrage across the U.S. from those who said the scheme has become a 'waste of taxpayers' money' as the food stamps system can be abused by those receiving handouts.

It's a hard line to draw, what is an essential, and what is a luxury? People opinions vary greatly on things they feel are not acceptable purchases with food stamps.

What do you think are acceptable purchases and what are not?

Somewhere along the way, Welfare and Food Stamps went from being an emergency fall back for the truly needy, to being a socially acceptable Plan B for long term living. Starbucks, Taco Bell and the rest of the changes to Food Stamps just shows how true that is. It was intended to give the nutrition needed for the poorest among us to have food and the basics to survive as opposed to becoming the beggar class seen outside Airports all over the world.

I think when ALL remaining stigma is removed from the Government dole and simply living as a leach...we'll have pretty well made the transition from a Nation that has welfare programs to a Welfare Nation.

reply to post by isyeye


i could not agree more

i am not averse to luxury items - but i simply cannot afford starbucks or its ilk [ here in the uk £2.05 for a espresso ]

my addiction to luxury coffe is sated at home , via a expresso / cappuchino machine and a trip to local coffe shop ever 2 ~ 3 weeks where i pay about 5~6 quid [ dept on blend ] to fill a jar with beans

foodstamps - as you say should be restricted to basic staples - for a balanced diet - not fast food / crap / alcahol or donuts and esp not coffee that costs more / gallon than gasoline

Boycott, Starbucks, after 2013, they are to inundate the markets with cheap low quality coffee already been produced in China, leaving the south American markets of better quality coffee to rot.

So in 2013 anybody drinking coffee from Starbuck will be drinking Chinese crap but at the same prices of better quality coffee, you still pay the prices Starbucks makes more profits.

I already stop drinking their coffee and supporting our local family coffee shop in town.

They specifically mention the Starbucks in Safeway. They tend to use the same cash register system. I am not sure if the Starbucks are seperate or owned by Safeway. But it could be that the system can't seperate the Starbucks from the other safeway registers.

I wouldn't be surprised if Safeway comes out with a correction soon.


You only get a certain amount of money. If you waste four bucks on Starbucks instead of buying food, that is that much less food you can buy.

'Luxury' sugar-filled goods such as $5 Starbucks coffees and cakes are being purchased using food stamps, an investigation has revealed.

I don't know how food-stamps work...but wouldn't that be the problem of the people wasting their stamps on a $5 coffee? I assume (?) they get stamps equaling some money value...and then it's the responsibility of the people how they spend them?

reply to post by ignorant_ape


I don't know how they are being used in Taco Bell because prepared foods are not on the list.

reply to post by isyeye


This is disgusting, most working stiffs don't even indulge in Starbucks drinks, why should the gov't be handing them out? I've also seen commercials where if you're receiving gov't assistance, you can qualify for a free cell phone with prepaid minutes!!

This isn't "Welfare"...this is "I now have an excuse to do what I want and not work or contribute anything of value to society, while society pays me to do it."

People on welfare only get a certain amount of money each month, they use the money up no matter what they buy, if they want waste their money on that crap, I don't really care.

BUT, with that being said...

I don't buy Starbucks and I certainly do have the money to if I wanted, I only go to small local coffee shops wherever I go.

But that is not the point either...

I think we need to focus on why there is poverty and the underlining causes, which there are plenty of(and it wouldn't be too hard to fix if people cared). There is really no need for there to be poverty or welfare in the US, we have just made so terrible mistakes over the years as a nation.

So, with THAT being said, I don't even think we should have to have this discussion.

Wow. I currentley recieve foodstamps, and would NEVER buy a 5 dollar a cup coffee with it! I can spend 7 and get aenough coffee for my 2 cup a day habit, to last a month.

Common sense is gone.

Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by ignorant_ape

 

I don't know how they are being used in Taco Bell because prepared foods are not on the list.

That is the whole point and problem here..... While some states are busting chops about EBT cards being used in places that raise eyebrows..like Casinos or Amusement parks, others are making changes to allow some fast food places and Starbucks to take them. It makes no sense, does it?

reply to post by isyeye


Hmmm sounds more like the government are subsidizing Starbucks by allowing this to happen.

And what kind of poor person wastes $5 on a Starbucks coffee when a trip to Walmart gets you a months supply for the same price ?

Cosmic..

reply to post by Cosmic4life

And what kind of poor person wastes $5 on a Starbucks coffee when a trip to Walmart gets you a months supply for the same price ?

It think this is a good question. Personally, if I was recieving money from the government for food, I'd be using my money for things like rice and beans. Part of the problem is that there needs to be more food education for people recieving assistance so they know how to use the money they recieve better. Of course, there will always be those who take advantage of the system.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000

Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by ignorant_ape

 

I don't know how they are being used in Taco Bell because prepared foods are not on the list.

That is the whole point and problem here..... While some states are busting chops about EBT cards being used in places that raise eyebrows..like Casinos or Amusement parks, others are making changes to allow some fast food places and Starbucks to take them. It makes no sense, does it?

Well of course, those who abuse the cards only make up a small percentage of those who get them.

The problem is not those on welfare, it is the flaws in our system which has created the need for welfare.

Plenty of people on food stamps actually need them. Why they need them is what needs to be addressed. It's not partisan.

Food stamp use at military commissaries up sharply in four years

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I think that is the problem that the EBT system is a private company, so they can allow non grocery stores into the system, or they found a loophole.

I will say though that probably the majority of people on foodstamps, don't live in areas that has a Starbucks.

Originally posted by marg6043
Boycott, Starbucks, after 2013, they are to inundate the markets with cheap low quality coffee already been produced in China, leaving the south American markets of better quality coffee to rot.

So in 2013 anybody drinking coffee from Starbuck will be drinking Chinese crap but at the same prices of better quality coffee, you still pay the prices Starbucks makes more profits.

I already stop drinking their coffee and supporting our local family coffee shop in town.

I already stopped drinking their coffee awhile back because I support small local businesses and not near monopolies. What your saying is shocking, just another reason I won't go to SB ever again. Sucks for those farmers in South America who supply Starbucks, one quick switch and... bam, people who had careers are screwed.

This is just sooooo stupid!

Why does the government allow this?

Everyone around me uses an EBT card, I hate waiting on line at the supermarket. Dont get me wrong, I have no problem with people who really need it using it. I've had it before when times were tough, but I actually bought food with it. All I see being bought with it is snack after snack, beer and cigarettes. Meanwhile as a family trying to survive, we're counting our little measly dollars to budget between food, rent, and bills while others are throwing beer fests at our expense.

EBT, accepted everywhere now it seems, even the local liquor store.

Originally posted by CREAM
Well of course, those who abuse the cards only make up a small percentage of those who get them.

The problem is not those on welfare, it is the flaws in our system which has created the need for welfare.

Plenty of people on food stamps actually need them. Why they need them is what needs to be addressed. It's not partisan.

I'd love to assume that the abusers are a small %, but do you have basis for that beyond personal opinion? I don't have proof for saying it's wrong..but that is a very general statement to make without that basis. It defines the very concept of bias in looking at the topic. I'd tend to come more toward the abuse population being less than half....but far more than a 'small percentage'. The welfare population was quite large during economic BOOM times under Clinton, for example. Small % for abuse, you say? Hmmm....

Okay.. Fair enough on the second point in so far as that goes, but only as far as it goes here. Personal Responsibility and personal choices led a MAJORITY of those on Food Stamps and Welfare to be there. Do I BLAME THEM? No.. I don't. We all make mistakes and bad choices. I will call people on it when the excuses start flowing and blame to society with everyone BUT the person in the mirror, begins to take shape. Government meddling in the economy IS what caused much of the problems....but I dare say, the creation of a Socialist welfare nation is far from the solution. Ask Europe how that has worked out for them over the past few decades......as they go into total fiscal collapse.

Your last line is the one I can 100% agree with, without qualification. Many people on food stamps DO need them and it includes people like the U.S. Armed Forces. That is about as shameful as it gets for our nation to have to admit, but you're right. There it is...and it's impossible to argue with. I'd suggest increasing troop pay so they don't NEED food stamps..but the last raise literally did take an act of Congress (I know..they do) and took forever with a lot of fighting to accomplish.....a few pennies more per check. SO much for hope that things will change for them.

In the mean time.... I don't advocate throwing people off benefits in these hard times..but lets knock off the efforts to find ever new ways to make welfare and food stamps MORE attractive and MORE acceptable in a world where we need to work toward NOT NEEDING THEM.....not ways to get more people on them.

reply to post by isyeye


That's hardly the worst thing I've seen people buying at starbucks with their food cards.

I used to go in the morning, and I would see one or two people buying malt liquor or cheap beer. That is along with their coffee (it's a starbucks inside a grocery store.)