What's a espresso promotion doing giving out tattoo stickers?

Starbucks promoted its Coconut Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso by giving a free temporary tattoo sticker with any drink from the Iced Shaken Espresso series, starting on the 27th. Before launch, baristas posted photos of arms covered in stickers that looked like sleeve tattoos. Some social media users worried the stickers could influence students; others called them entertainment and said the reaction was overblown.

The campaign leans on the shaken format that defines what's a espresso in this lineup: shots shaken with ice for a creamy texture. For the coffee enthusiast, the sticker is a small collectible and a reason to post. For critics, the concern is youth marketing rather than coffee itself. The debate has mostly played out online, with no reported change to the launch date or the giveaway.

Starbucks, in order to promote its new product Coconut Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso, launched a campaign offering free temporary tattoos with the purchase of any iced shaken espresso series drink, but it sparked controversy on social media. Some netizens worried that the temporary tattoos might have a negative influence on students, while others argued that they are merely娱乐 stickers and need not be over-interpreted. This article sorts out the whole incident and various viewpoints, while retaining brand news of interest to coffee enthusiasts.

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Recently, Starbucks employees have been posting photos on their social accounts of their arms covered in temporary tattoos, looking like they have full "sleeve tattoos."

It is understood that this is a pre-launch promotion by Starbucks partners for the upcoming new Iced Shaken Espresso — Coconut Double Shot Iced Shaken Espresso. The product will officially go on sale on the 27th of this month, which is tomorrow.

According to information revealed by Starbucks partners, starting tomorrow, anyone who purchases a drink from the Iced Shaken Espresso series will receive a free temporary tattoo sticker. However, before the campaign has officially started, the partners could not hold back and had already experienced what it feels like to be a "sleeve-tattoo boss."

Looking at everyone's arms covered in temporary tattoos, the author cannot help but think of a classic meme:

Back when Iced Shaken Espresso first debuted, this product already emphasized not just injecting coffee with a rich, creamy texture, but also pouring the barista's confidence into it.

Now, those baristas who once had social anxiety have successfully transformed into social butterflies after nearly a year of shaking practice. With the added "sleeve tattoos," the barista confidence infused into this series of coffees will surely multiply! Whoever takes a sip will feel full of energy and vitality!

In this era when people are keen to share the bits and pieces of their lives on social platforms, a small temporary tattoo can both entertain the public and provide another opportunity to share daily life, so it can be regarded as a good thing.

However, many netizens also oppose this Starbucks campaign. They believe that a considerable proportion of Starbucks' customer base is students, and such temporary tattoos could easily have a negative influence on students. At the same time, they said that if these are really to be given away, it is suggested to stop distributing them to those under 18, since real tattoos can affect qualifications for civil service exams and public institution exams.

In response to these opposing voices, the attitude of netizens in the comments section was quite consistent, because everyone knows that Starbucks' core consumer group is not students, but mostly adults who are financially independent. This group has the ability to think independently and understands the possible impact of tattoos on themselves.

Some netizens also pointed out that these temporary tattoos are essentially just entertainment items. It is precisely because people do not dare or do not want to get a real tattoo, yet still want to try something new, that such products have emerged. Just like the stickers included in bubble gum when we were children, which could stick to the skin and be removed with lotion or alcohol, they completely do not affect later life, so the opposing views are simply overthinking.

Other netizens said that if even this kind of temporary tattoo can corrupt the next generation, then the parents are the biggest problem. There are also大量 similar stickers sold in convenience stores at school gates; by this logic, wouldn't they all have to be banned?

A real tattoo is a lifelong matter. When a person decides to get a tattoo, they need to take responsibility for their choice. If a small temporary tattoo can have such a big impact, perhaps the root of the problem is not with the inventor of the sticker or the brand.

Image source: Internet chiyoko

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.