Starbucks Has No Plans to Go Cashless
The Claim
On October 1, 2022, Starbucks will stop taking cash payments.
News posted on
Emerging story
News that Starbucks will stop accepting cash as of October 1, 2022, has recently been making the rounds on social media.
Users also shared images of allegedly in-store posters and banners promoting Starbucks' new cashless policy.
Other users shared the claim calling everyone to boycott Starbucks using the hashtag #boycottstarbucks.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it misleading.
Misbar was unable to locate an official announcement from Starbucks regarding their intention to eliminate cash transactions by October 2022.
Starbucks Refutes Accusations
Starbucks tweeted on their official U.K. Twitter account that they have no plans to stop taking cash in U.K. stores. This came after Starbucks' Bradford store advertised a sign noting that they will no longer accept cash starting in October.
A Starbucks spokesperson told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, "In the UK, we operate alongside various licensee business partners, which means this may vary from store to store, and the majority of stores continue to offer cash payments to customers."
‘Cash Is Always an Option'
Starbucks accepts a variety of payment methods, according to a blog post on the company's official website, which was last updated on March 30, 2021.
This blog explains that Starbucks accepts a variety of payment options to accommodate their customers' preferences. The blog listed a variety of payment options, including cash, a credit or debit card, the Starbucks app, Starbucks cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and the Bakkt app.
Is It Legal to Reject Cash Payment?
According to the official website of the Federal Reserve, private businesses are free to develop their own policies regarding whether or not to accept cash.
Misbar's findings reveal that Starbucks did not go cashless; only a few U.K. stores did.
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