Starbucks Downgrades Their Menu

Money is tight... coffee is expensive... people aren't spending as much on "the little things" in life (which is where Starbucks makes its bread and butter)... so... Starbucks has a plan: start selling happy drinks in newly named stores. Beginning with three Seattle-based locations, Starbucks will launch new stores under the pseudonym "15th Avenue Coffee and Tea" (because they are trying to give them a hometown feel, it is unclear if all the stores will have this moniker or if each one will have a different name to reflect its location) and will serve coffee, tea, wine and beer.

So much for my local, franchise coffeehouse.

As a pastor I often like to go (though, admittedly, not as often as I'd like due to cost) to Starbucks to read, research, sermon prep, and do office things out of the office. My wife and I also like to hit up the local Starbucks when we go on dates so we can just sit, talk and relax while drinking our favorite "foo-foo coffees," as my dad calls them. With the exception of the always loud music (that, no matter how often I ask them to turn it down, only seems to get louder) I love my coffeehouse! I love the smell, the people, the baristas (who, when I was going often, recognized me as a "regular" and would offer to start my "usual" Grande Java Chip Frappuccino, extra shot, light with light whip coffee before I even stepped to the counter to order it), the big, over-stuffed chairs and the all-around atmosphere. Now, it seems, I'll have to enjoy the new coffee-bar atmosphere as some patrons knock back coffee, while others allow their inhibitions to slip away as they plow through beer and women's beer (wine).

For those automatically jumping on the "he's a pastor and a Christian, of course he doesn't like to drink" stereotypical bandwagon, understand this has nothing to do with my faith. I loathe alcohol because of the number of people I see hurt as a result of people "escaping" through knocking back a couple with friends (in particular behavior brought on by being tipsy/buzzed/drunk - such as flirting with someone that's not their spouse, atypical "fun" behavior that would never be done sober, hurtful conversations, abuse, etc.). The last thing I want to deal with at the coffeeshop is someone looking to "escape" or who doesn't know their limit. I also don't want to bring my children in for their hot cocoa or chocolate milk box knowing they may be exposed to an atmosphere they are not prepared to handle (nor will be).

Here's hoping others feel the same way I do and this idea doesn't pan out. If it does, however, and my local Starbucks becomes "I-40 Coffee and Tea," I'll be traveling an additional 20 minutes to the Carribou coffee (or learning how to brew a better cup of coffee).

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Image borrowed from kayakman.
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"College: It's All About Gettin' Your Drink On!"

Considering today's social norms it really should not be much of a surprise that incidents of binge drinking is on the rise; however, when you see that of the college students polled almost HALF (45%) have engaged in the activity in the past month it is cause for some serious alarm.

Binge drinking is the consumption of alcohol with no thought of the consequences or responsibilities involved in drinking. It is drinking to the point of passing out, blacking out, losing most cognitive faculties (namely the ability to think rationally) or, worse yet, poisoning or death. It is one of the leading causes for vehicle deaths among college students and assaults (to include sexual assaults).

The article I linked above posed some very good reasons why this increase is happening, but of those listed I believe the most significant reason (that even they point out) is: culture. It is socially condoned, accepted, approved of and encouraged (especially in the media) to “be young,” party, “throw your inhibitions to the wind” and forget the world a while. Rap artist Asher Roth even wrote a tribute song to the socially accepted party scene called "I Love College" (see the lyrics here - explicit lyrics!). Drinking, getting hammered, trashed or wasted is an accepted, social norm - a part of life. Even those who have committed crimes while drunk are more easily forgiven than those doing it sober (as if the drinking excuses the actions or make said actions understandable).

Most teens and college students have no clue how to actually have fun without “liquid courage” (hence the reason Girls Gone Wild has copious amounts of alcohol on hand when filming… very few girls would do what they do on camera without the alcohol). For those that do try to have fun sans alcohol see the fun they have as a lesser fun because the rest of their peers are out drinking or often feel like outcasts when the rest of their peers would rather be at the bar or club (or hosting drunken parties).

Just recently I spoke with a 20 year old female college student who has living arrangements with family but plans to move out in the fall to “have a real college experience.” I asked her what’s a “real college experience” and she said having parties and such all the time (she wanted to live in a house that was a center for partying among her circle of friends and acquaintances). I asked her why she thought that was so important and she said “because it’s what you do when you’re young. This is the only time in your life to do that sort of thing.” She has bought into a social lie and despite my warnings and pleadings with her that the lifestyle she is choosing will have consequences (if nothing else later when she, as a mother, begs and pleads with her own children to avoid this lifestyle) she shrugged me off saying “I won’t let that happen – I’ll be smart about it.”

Of course she will be different. They’ll all be different. That’s this culture’s responsible mantra: “just don’t let it be you.”

To Those Who Are Part of This Lifestyle Now (or want to be): I know consequences won’t happen to you – you will party through college (and/or high school) and graduate with honors, get an illustrious career and have the All-American family. Let’s just say for a moment that “it” does happen to you though (consequences). Let’s say any of the following happen:

• You drunkenly decide to drive (you never would have done that sober) and you are caught. Or worse yet, kill or hurt someone. Was it worth it?

• You pass out drunk at a party and are assaulted. Was it worth it?

• You host a party at which someone is assaulted or leaves drunk and kills or injures someone. Was it worth it?

• You’re caught drinking and driving and lose your license and people won’t hire you because of your record. Was it worth it?

• Your kid one day asks you “Dad/Mom – did you party and get drunk in high school? Can I?” or as they are strolling the internet (you have no control over who puts what on the internet) or old pics and stumble across pictures of you drunk in compromising acts. Was it worth it?
  

Many times our picture of the end justify our means; namely, "I won’t get hurt and no one else will either, therefore, it is worth it." Or "something might happen, but it won’t be that bad and I’ll learn my lesson then." Problem is, you have NO control over anything; no control over what happens or what the consequences are. Once the fire is lit, the damage is done. You cannot undo it.

PARENTS: Forget the ridiculous conversation about whether drinking is Biblical or not. It doesn’t matter. Teach your teens and children to love God with all their hearts (Phil. 4:8). Teach them to ask about everything they do: “is what I’m about to do the best possible way for me to love and worship God?” Be living examples of what that question looks like.

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