Starbucks is a widely consumed food and beverage chain across SLOHS campus. Graphic courtesy of freshman Joe DiBiase.
For students at San Luis Obispo High School, Starbucks drinks and beverages have become a part of their everyday lives. The large consumption has led to a massive amount of money spent on the tasty treats, and affects our planet as a whole.
“A large amount of my money goes to Starbucks because it’s an easy way to get coffee in the morning,” said freshman Marley Stock.
Starbucks isn’t necessarily known for its “cheap” or “affordable” items, as drinks range from $3.75 up to $7.00, and food items range from $5.00 to $9.00. These prices may seem reasonable at first glance, but when purchased daily or multiple times a week, they can become a spending habit that can be detrimental to people’s finances.
“I keep purchasing from them because their drinks are delicious,” said sophomore Natalie Peters.
The constant purchasing from Starbucks is seen to be mainly based on the taste and aesthetic appeal of the beverages and food. In the long run, we can also tell that these purchases will add up without someone noticing.
“Their plastic straws and cups pollute our planet if not disposed of properly,” said freshman Ella Gaedeke.
Another way that these investments can be turning our planet upside down is due to the trash and waste produced by Starbucks’ drink cups and food wrappers. Most of the cups are made out of plastic or lined with plastic, making them non-recyclable. The food wrappers, on the other hand, are sometimes made of paper, but the plastic wrappers aren’t recyclable.
In conclusion, we can see that many students on the SLOHS campus and in our society are purchasing from Starbucks due to the attention-seeking drink options and sweet treats, but they are at risk of hurting their pockets and our environment. Overall, supporting the company isn’t bad in moderation, but when it comes to consumption multiple times weekly, it can lead to worse situations.
Sources: cleanwater.org, finance.yahoo.com
