EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
U.S. Backs Bayer in Supreme Court Battle Over Roundup Cancer Lawsuits 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Tesla Faces 19% Drop in UK Registrations as Competition Intensifies 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
GM Issues Recall for 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Trucks Over Missing Owner Manuals 
Rio Tinto Raises 2025 Copper Output Outlook as Oyu Tolgoi Expansion Accelerates 
U.S. Soybean Shipments to China Gain Momentum as Trade Tensions Ease 
Momenta Quietly Moves Toward Hong Kong IPO Amid Rising China-U.S. Tensions 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Starbucks has finally removed the additional charge for customers who request vegan milk alternatives for their beverages. The coffee chain said that it would stop the upcharge at all of its 1,020 outlets in the U.K.
Starbucks has been criticized for charging extra for orders with dairy-free milk. A spoof campaign was published earlier this month, and it was meant to call out the Seattle-based coffee chain for imposing extra pay for vegan milk. Someone posted a fake press release saying the company is canceling the upcharge for milk alternatives.
As a result, although the P.R. was fake, it was reported that for the first time, Starbucks U.K. made a promise to cancel the extra charge for plant-based dairies. The announcement came just weeks after that campaign gimmick that mentioned some issues related to the additional charge.
With the announcement, customers can welcome the new year with a big smile as their favorite coffee shop has finally heard their objection to the upcharge, and their wish has been granted.
According to Plant-based News, Starbucks U.K. said that starting Jan. 5, 2022, it will not be collecting extra charges for vegan dairy alternatives anymore. The directive applies to all Starbucks branches in the country.
This means that from next week, customers can request any of the plant-based milk available in the stores, such as oat, coconut, soya, and almond milk, for their drinks at no extra cost. The Starbucks Original Nut Blend is also included in the options with no upcharge.
“Alongside the arrival of the new Oat platform, 2022 also sees Starbucks announce that from 5 January, it will no longer charge extra for any of its five dairy alternatives in any of its 1,020 UK stores,” Starbucks U.K. stated in a press release.
Meanwhile, the coffee chain is also introducing more vegan items in the coming year. One example of a food option is plant-based tuna. For the drinks, Starbucks U.K. is adding the vegan Strawberry & Vanilla Oat Latte and Dark Cocoa & Orange Oat Latte to its beverage menu lineup.
