Starbucks has been recognized as a place that lures young kids and teenagers to drink their highly caffeinated and sugary drinks. Even though the Seattle based chain only has a handful of drinks it says that “the under-18 set has become part of the coffee chain’s customer base.” Brandon Borrman, Starbucks’ spokesperson stated that they are considering whether or not they should add new drinks or new sizes that meet the need of kids.

John Owens of Morningstar said, “While Starbucks hasn’t actively marketed towards that demographic, I think the Starbucks brand has appealed to teenagers, and so there’s certainly an opportunity there for the company to increase business.”

Starbucks’ drinks have 3 times as much caffeine as a soda and others have more calories than a McDonald’s Big Mac. If a change is made Starbucks will have to be careful when serving these drinks to kids, such as the soda companies. “Starbucks has lots of sweetened, cold, high-calorie caffeinated beverages that in some cases will contribute to weight gain, (and) in other cases are replacing healthier foods in the diet,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

[via MSNBC]

Tags: Business, Starbucks, Coffee, Caffeine, Starbucks Challenge, Marketing

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