Starbucks Confirms that Tap Water is Cheap

Some keen person noted that Starbucks chain of coffee shops let the taps run without being turned off. The immediate claim is that this is leading to loss of precious water and one for which this story in the Guardian reports, the Starbucks chain is receiving a lot of condemnation for. While I am also concerned with the need to use resources efficiently, I am led to the belief that the Starbucks shops cannot be doing this without some thinking behind it and so the moralizing and condemnation may need to be moderated.

I think that one need not police Starbucks by demanding that all faucets within the establishment be turned off. Its behaviour merely confirms that Starbucks finds that tap water is very cheap. The solution is very simple and has been argued on this blog before. It would involve the most appropriate pricing of water so that Starbucks is compelled to dedicate its best effort in keeping costs low while ensuring that the concern for its customers health is also ensured. So what all those condemning Starbucks should do is advocate for governments to price water and ensure that all who utilize water pay the costs. Even Starbucks would not mind that.