Starbucks is releasing three new frozen lemonade refreshers nationwide this summer, inspired by their popular Refreshers drink. The new menu items include Frozen Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade, Frozen Strawberry Açaí Lemonade, and Frozen Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade. The drinks consist of classic Starbucks Refreshers blended with fruit, lemonade, and ice. The release comes amidst employee union-led walkouts due to alleged unfair labor practices, including alleged Pride decoration bans in some stores, which Starbucks denies.
Starbucks has added Frozen Lemonade Refreshers to its permanent menu, available in three flavors: Frozen Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade, Frozen Strawberry Acai Lemonade, and Frozen Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade. The drinks are blended with real fruit pieces and lemonade, and topped with a swirl of strawberry puree. Starbucks also released a new line of colorful drinkware for the summer. Additionally, the RTD Pink Drink and Paradise Drink are now available in grocery stores and online for a suggested retail price of $3.67 per 14 oz bottle. Customers can receive a $.10 discount on their order by bringing in a clean, reusable cup, and Starbucks Rewards members can earn 25 bonus Stars for doing so.
Starbucks will now charge customers an extra dollar for Refresher beverages made without water, citing the extra cost of the ingredients. Fans of the drinks expressed disappointment on social media, with some stores misinterpreting the new policy and causing confusion among customers. This is not the first time Starbucks has faced customer complaints over cost hikes to its menu.
Starbucks will start charging customers an extra $1 for Refresher drinks requested with no water, starting May 9. The change is due to the additional Refresher base required for the customization. The change does not impact requests for low or no ice. Some baristas are concerned about facing backlash from customers over the new charge, while some social media posts have speculated that Starbucks planned to start charging extra for Refresher requests with less or no ice, which is not true.
