School Serving Starbucks To Kids

[Christine]

Hmmm....what do you think of this:

Today, my son, who attends a K-8 school, attended a book seminar with a local author. The seminar was for the 6-8 graders (middle schoolers). At this book talk, they were given the option to buy Hot Chocolate and Cookies (we were never told so my son didn't have any money with him). But, some of the parents who were running this thing decided to buy the bottled Starbucks Frappacinos and pour them into disposable cups and hand them out for free.

I will say that I am not against Starbucks. My kids (both 12 and 15) have been to Starbucks. My 15 year old does get a coffee-type drink there; however, the younger one has only ever ordered their hot chocolate. Personally, I don't have a problem with my son having a little bit of coffee. He's done it at home.

But don't you think that THE PARENT should get to decide when their child drinks these types of beverages? On top of that, I have talked to MANY parents who are very against coffee drinks for their children.

I guess I'm just kind of shocked that some parents would think that this is an appropriate beverage for a middle school function.

 

[Hedy]

That's weird. And I'm kind of boggled that a bunch of parent volunteers would think that was a good idea for a bunch of middle schoolers to get hyped up on caffeine.

 

[Anewman]

I dont think they forced any of the children to drink anything.

I am sure kids in the 6th - 8th grades know where their parents stand on the coffee issue. I am also sure that some kids drank the coffee knowing full well that their parents would not have allowed it, but I dont think that is entirely the volunteers fault.

 

[disneymom3]

I would be one of those parents that doesn't let their kids have coffee drinks. Basically no caffeine. I am cool with getting DD a drink at Starbucks as long as it is decaf, but we don't even do Coke around here.

It wouldn't peeve me enough to do anything about it but I wouldn't have been impressed.

 

[Anewman]

I would be one of those parents that doesn't let their kids have coffee drinks. Basically no caffeine. I am cool with getting DD a drink at Starbucks as long as it is decaf, but we don't even do Coke around here.

It wouldn't peeve me enough to do anything about it but I wouldn't have been impressed.

And do you think your kids are aware of your no coke or starbucks(caffeinated) stance?

 

[nsyncraider17]

I don't see what the big deal is. I assume the problem is that the drinks had caffeine in them? If so, it's not really any different than letting kids drink pop, which I remember having at class parties in 4th and 5th grade, maybe even earlier. It wasn't sold in the cafeteria on a daily basis or anything, but parents would bring it in on party days for a treat, because it's something special to kids.

It sounds like that's all this was. I'm thinking that Starbucks started to be "cool" when I was in 7th and 8th grade, and my friends and I would go get frappuccinos when we went shopping or on some other outing. Drinks like that clearly have appeal to young teenagers (especially girls), so it makes sense to me that parents would bring some as a treat at a special event.

 

[Christine]

I know, it's not really a big deal--I just got my knickers in a twist about something else today and this came down on top of it.

As I said, I do allow caffeine drinks in my home and even coffee at times. But I can tell you that I've talked to a number of parents who take a real hardline stance against this stuff. They usually relax a bit in high school, but I know there are parents in this school who are probably really angry.

As much as my kids love Starbucks and I might let *them* have it, I guess I would never think it appropriate to give to another person's child without permission.

 

[Steffi]

I think the parents who handed out the Frappaccino drinks were trying to make sure that the kids who didn't have any money got a treat, too. Odd "treat" to choose, but still nice of them. I wouldn't have been bothered by it.

 

[Aidensmom]

At the spaghetti dinner put on by the PTSA at my son's K-8 last month, all they had to drink was Coke and Diet Coke. I don't usually let my son drink caffiene, but it was just a one time thing, so to me no big deal. Whereas I think parents should decide what their children can have, I guess I wouldn't really get too upset over the Starbucks thing if it wasn't a regular occurrence. Bad judgment on the part of those mothers, probably. But something to get too upset about, probably not. It's not like they were giving out beer and cigarettes.

I do let my son get Frappucino's at Starbucks though (decaf), so maybe I just am more lenient.

 

[ZuZugal]

If they were being poured into disposable cups I would think the serving sizes would not be too big.

I personally don't know many kids who would touch that stuff. I have 2 middle schoolers that would give it one wiff and say "no thanks".

Could a different beverage have been chosen? Sure. Maybe you can get on the committee that makes those choices and voice your opinion before the event next time. Nothing to get yourself all worked up about though. Some things we just need to learn to let go. "Pick your battles" as I like to tell my DH and my kids.

As you stated, you don't have a problem with your son having a little bit of coffee and that he has had some at home.

 

[kinntj]

I wouldn't be too happy about it, but what can you really do if it's offered and your child takes some. Some parents don't think before they do.

I hope that I can educate my child on caffeine and what it does to their body. I don't mind drinking a little coffee, but pop is just terribly bad for you.

 

[daisyduck123]

I woouldn't have a problem with it, esp. since it was just a small amount.

My kids won't even touch a drink like that.
If they did, boy would they be hyped up from that small amount of caffeine.
They NEVER drink caffeinated drinks.


DD12 tried a soda once & hated it....never again.

DS9 has never even tried one (his own choosing).
At birthday parties, restaurants, etc. they both ask for lemonade or water.

(When we get them refillable mugs at WDW, they get a lot of apple juice, fruit punch, etc.)

 

[Free4Life11]

Honestly, if they were buying the bottled ones and pouring them into cups, the kids probably weren't getting much. I think the parents were just trying to be nice

 

[Christine]

Nothing to get yourself all worked up about though. Some things we just need to learn to let go. "Pick your battles" as I like to tell my DH and my kids.

As you stated, you don't have a problem with your son having a little bit of coffee and that he has had some at home.

Oh, I'm not going to battle it at all. Like you said, just not worth it. It just NEVER would have occurred to me that this would be a good thing to serve at the school book talk. Man, talk about a drink laden down with fat, caffeine, and sugar.

I think I'll just bring some Red Bull to the next event.

 

[MAKmom]

Coke, Ice tea, Orange Soda & Mountain Dew all are the same as Drinking the Frappicinos. They are not pure coffee. It is Milk & Coffee.

 

[disykat]

I would be very surprised if someone gave my child a Starbucks coffee drink. I have a 6th grader and an 8th grader and it has never OCCURED to me to give them coffee. They've never asked to try it. It just seems like a very weird thing to give a child.

I don't drink much coffee myself. I don't like plain coffee. I like Lattes, but I'm too cheap to consider them more than a rare treat. I'd hate to have a teenager with a Starbucks habit!

I do know some young teen girls who like to go to Starbucks as kind of a "cool" thing to do with their friends. It sounds to me like the parents were either trying to be cool or help the kids feel cool - which seems like a weird goal to me.

Maybe some genius employee at Starbucks gave them free samples to try to get a new customer base!

 

[taylor1293]

Does anyone know what the amount of caffine is in a coke compared to a frappichino?

My kids don't drink soda at home, only when we go out to eat. But my 13 year old has mentioned wanting to try a frappichino (I drink them as do some of her friends) and I've been concerned about the amount of caffine so I haven't let her have one yet. So if anyone knows the true caffine amounts, please let me know, thanks!

 

[Christine]

Does anyone know what the amount of caffine is in a coke compared to a frappichino?

My kids don't drink soda at home, only when we go out to eat. But my 13 year old has mentioned wanting to try a frappichino (I drink them as do some of her friends) and I've been concerned about the amount of caffine so I haven't let her have one yet. So if anyone knows the true caffine amounts, please let me know, thanks!

I just looked it up on the internet.

A Bottle Starbucks Frappacino has 90 mg of caffeine in 9.5 ounces.

12 oz of Coca Cola Classic has 34 mg. The 34 mg seems kind of low--I think I read somewhere that a soda has about 40 mg, so I guess that's kind of close.

As for how much they got--the used the Styrofoam coffee cups that offices typically used. Same size as for the hot chocolate. So I would say that got roughly 6 oz of the drink.

 

[taylor1293]

I just looked it up on the internet.

A Bottle Starbucks Frappacino has 90 mg of caffeine in 9.5 ounces.

12 oz of Coca Cola Classic has 34 mg. The 34 mg seems kind of low--I think I read somewhere that a soda has about 40 mg, so I guess that's kind of close.

As for how much they got--the used the Styrofoam coffee cups that offices typically used. Same size as for the hot chocolate. So I would say that got roughly 6 oz of the drink.

Thank you for finding that! Wow, so it's has over 3 times the caffine per ounce as soda. I had no idea it was that much greater.

As for the kids getting it at school, since it was in a small 6 ounce cup, I would think it was odd, but I wouldn't be bothered by it. Now, if it were a grande, then I would probably feel differently!

 

[themarquis]

I just looked it up on the internet.

A Bottle Starbucks Frappacino has 90 mg of caffeine in 9.5 ounces.

12 oz of Coca Cola Classic has 34 mg. The 34 mg seems kind of low--I think I read somewhere that a soda has about 40 mg, so I guess that's kind of close.

As for how much they got--the used the Styrofoam coffee cups that offices typically used. Same size as for the hot chocolate. So I would say that got roughly 6 oz of the drink.

fyi there is also a strawberry flavor that has no caffeine. I think the mocha flavor has a bit less than the 90 mg, as well. You would need to find out which kind they were given by the teachers (also, were the small styrofoam cups full? they might have been half full, meaning a lot less caffeine).