Top’o the Morning to Ya

A story was out today that Starbucks is testing the selling of alcoholic beverages – although they are also testing a re-branding of special stores for it (called 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea) – they’ll add poetry readings and live music (sheesh – the nineties are calling and they want their ideas back).

The word is they are doing this to combat slow business and weak sales. Yah, so drinking tends to go up during bad economies, so let’s sell booze alongside our frappacinos! 

I just find this kind of disturbing. It’s kind of nice to be able to go someplace to sit and have a non-alcoholic drink without people getting buzzed around you.  I think coffee shops are often safe havens for people in recovery.

I’m not a stick in the mud – I go to restaurants and places that serve alcohol and it doesn’t really bother me – but this just seems weird.  I mean, next they’ll whisper to you at the cash register, “Psst, want a shot of whisky in that coffee?”

Starbucks has had its share of bad ideas, but this one just seems lame and misguided.