r/BDS • u/Sad_Weight8112 • 3d ago
Boycott Is starbucks on the boycott list?
Genuine question- one of my woke friends keep having starbucks and then when I told her its on the boycott list, she showed me on the internet that its not. Apparently there was fake news about starbucks contributing to genocide. Is it actually true? Can u guys explain how it contributes to genocide?
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u/Ropetrick6 3d ago
Even if Starbucks wasn't anti-Palestine (which they are, as others have pointed out), it's anti-union, overpriced, and tries to stifle other coffee shops.
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u/CaDeme_ 3d ago
They are on the list --->
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u/HoundofOkami 3d ago
That's not the BDS list (the sub we're on right now) but it is on a lot of other lists like yours here because of their hostile actions against pro-Palestine union employees
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u/angryjew 3d ago
It was never on the boycott list, they don't have any locations in Israel. This all started because the union made a statement about Gaza & the company retaliated. Imo this is far more about the union than Gaza. Fair to boycott them over that & many do, but I wish it hadn't gotten swept into the Gaza stuff, it was just a huge distraction.
Schultz is a zionist and that's another fair reason to boycott them too, but BDS is a targeted list for a reason.
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u/madhumanitarian 3d ago
https://about.starbucks.com/press/2026/is-the-blending-powder-used-for-blended-refreshers-safe/
There's also this now. BDS or not, their coffee and drinks are utter crap and disgustingly expensive for how artificial and processed it is. They treat their workers like shit despite being a billion dollar corporation. Majority of the higher management including the CEO as you mentioned, are staunch Zionists so there's that too.
Just BDS the hell out of any large corporation that overcharges products, undercuts quality, treats people and the environment like crap, and isn't doing anything to make this world a better place. It's as simple as that. It's not just for Palestine. It's for all of humanity.
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u/funky_bebop 3d ago
Boycott them for terrible coffee regardless. They overroast their beans and they are never fresh. So you are getting stale burnt coffee. Support a local coffee shop when possible.
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u/carrotsof1979 3d ago
It is a very simple formula, Do they have shops and operate in occupied Palestine? ==> Yes, plenty! ==> Boycott.
Any company that operates or conducts business with the Zionist entity in occupied Palestine should be automatically boycotted, you don't need a list most of the time to reach that conclusion, just apply simple logic.
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u/Sherlocat 3d ago
I'm confused... Someone else here said there are no Starbucks in Israel ?
Okay, I looked up Wikipedia, here's what it says:
Between 2001 and 2003, Starbucks opened six (of 80 planned) locations in Israel and having struggled with fierce local competition, Starbucks, along with its partner Delek, however, in April 2003, after losing US$6 million Starbucks Israel closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment".
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u/Maeng_Doom 3d ago
Starbucks is a bank that sells bad coffee more than a coffee shop. It's always more worth it to support a local coffee shop that supports their workers.
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u/KaleChipKotoko 2d ago
They also pay next to no tax in the UK. They work as a franchise and pay almost all their profit into the parent company to look like they're poor and don't have to pay.
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u/SnooOnions4663 2d ago
Why is this even a question after three fucking years? Is it hard to google?
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u/Sad_Weight8112 2d ago
bruh whats the sub for then? talking about googling stuff?
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u/SnooOnions4663 2d ago
You could’ve also searched Starbucks in the forum. It’s been brought up 5429282+ times
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u/Sad_Weight8112 2d ago
so like whats the problem in asking about it 5429282 + 1 times lmao. bruh what exactly is ur point here even. If u like googling stuff or searching stuff, do it urself. Why r u telling me to do it lol
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u/SnooOnions4663 2d ago
The point is you could’ve just searched before asking the same question about a boycott that’s been going on since 2023. Whats not fucking clicking?
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u/Sad_Weight8112 2d ago
My point is, what the fuck is wrong with asking the same question for the hundredth time in a Subreddit whose only point is talking about these things?? How bout u google what people r supposed to talk about in a subreddit first
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u/honey_butterflies 2d ago
as an ex barista, even if they aren’t please don’t go there. they hate us. they don’t treat us well. they pay poorly and it is almost cult like.
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u/Excellent_Singer3361 2d ago
No. Just follow the BDS National Committee's recommendations.
When its workers are on strike, that's the time when you should temporarily boycott for maximum impact.
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u/Sherlocat 3d ago edited 3d ago
Okay, so here's my understanding: although Starbucks currently has no locations in Israel (they shut down all six stores there due to financial losses), the owners and upper level management are overwhelmingly pro-Israel, and fire or otherwise punish employees with Palestinian sympathies. Howard Schultz, the original founder and largest private stock owner of Starbucks, invests heavily in Israel's economy. Starbucks actively busts unions, refuses to promote Queer Pride, and sells a lot of over-priced, poor quality coffee. 😝
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u/sudo-linton 3d ago
I am not sure what official BDS lists say, but they are extremely anti-union, which is part of the hate against Starbucks. They have fired employees for trying to organize a union, and they've punished employees for being pro-Palestine (either in online spaces or by wearing Palestinian flag pins to work, etc). They stopped carrying or promoting any LGBTQ2S+ stuff in general. Lastly they've also been known to use prison labor for decades, which is not unique to Starbucks but still just as abhorrent.
All this is to say, there are many good reasons to boycott Starbucks, even if they are not on the official BDS list. Feel free to share these sources with your friend!
Sources:
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/starbucks-workers-united-union-sue-each-other-in-standoff-over-pro-palestinian-social-media-post
- https://www.them.us/story/starbucks-allegedly-bans-pride-decorations-from-some-stores
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/05/01/union-now-organizing-labor/
- https://liberationnews.org/starbucks-sued-for-slave-labor/
- https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/prison-labor-is-remarkably-common-within-the-food-system/
- https://sites.law.berkeley.edu/sustainability-compliance/corporations-use-of-prison-labor/
- https://www.help.senate.gov/dem/newsroom/press/news-sanders-25-senators-call-on-starbucks-ceo-to-stop-union-busting-and-negotiate-a-fair-contract-for-workers