We’re tired of Bluestone Lane chargING a tax on
non-dairy milk.

Aren’t you?

end the tax

end the tax

On non-dairy

On non-dairy

WHAT’s the deal, Bluestone Lane?

Bluestone Lane advertises itself as “Sustainable Coffee for a Bluer Planet” and claims sustainability is a core value that shapes everything it does. And yet, the company is unfairly charging customers for non-dairy milk that is better for the planet.

Bluestone also says it has no tolerance for racism or discrimination of any kind. But what about the customers who are allergic or have an intolerance to dairy? Did you know this disproportionately impacts communities of color?

Sign below to tell Bluestone Lane to drop the unfair non-dairy milk tax!

Looking for good coffee
and fair pricing?

Walk BY Bluestone Lane and go to one of these chains instead.

More than 325 US chains offer alternative milks at no additional cost. So why is Bluestone Lane still charging up to $1.50 extra?

Logos of prominent coffee chains that have dropped the additional charge for non-dairy milk

(These chains have dropped the non-dairy tax)

IS

ALL TALK?

  • "At Bluestone Lane, sustainability is not just a buzzword—it’s a core value that shapes everything we do."

    Liam Farrow, Vice President, Bluestone Lane

  • "Join us in embracing a more sustainable coffee future—one cup at a time."

    Nick Stone, Founder, Bluestone Lane

  • "As part of our commitment to environmentally friendly practices, we believe in offering our community delicious options that are good for both the palate and the planet."

    Madisen Grays, Manager of Marketing & Education, Bluestone Lane

  • "Our environmental stewardship keeps us grounded in our responsibilities—and new possibilities for eliminating waste and minimizing impact excite us."

    Bluestone Lane: “Sustainable Coffee, For a Bluer Planet”

  • "There is absolutely no tolerance for racism or discrimination of any kind."

    Bluestone Lane: “Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion”

why should Bluestone Lane drop the non-dairy milk tax?

The non-dairy milk surcharge is outdated and unfair. Bluestone Lane is punishing customers for having an ethical or sustainable preference and for their allergies or lactose intolerance.

Is Bluestone Lane just greedy? Beholden to Big Dairy? What’s the deal? Drop the upcharge already!

  • Higher dairy consumption is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke; prostate, breast, and liver cancer; and overall mortality.

  • For the millions of Americans who are allergic to dairy, the consequences of consuming milk can be severe. They include difficulty breathing or swallowing; drops in blood pressure; rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea; and even death.

  • When ordering coffee at many shops, 50 million lactose-intolerant Americans face a choice: pay up to $1.50 more for non-dairy drinks or take their chances with nausea, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

  • U.S. dairy accounts for approximately 2% of total GHG emissions, 5.1% of water use, and 3.7% of U.S. farmland.

“The plant milk surcharge always felt unnecessary and an abnormal business practice.”

- Stumptown VP Jon Perry

“By removing the extra charge for non-dairy milks, we’re embracing all the ways our customers enjoy their Starbucks.”

- Starbucks CEO Brian Nicchols

drop the tax

drop the tax

is the upcharge unjust ?

Charging more for non-dairy milk could be considered discrimination.

Non-dairy milk upcharges disproportionately harm customers of color and those who can’t digest lactose. About 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, including 80% of Black Americans, 90% of Asian Americans, and 50% of Latino Americans.

In fact, a number of major coffee chains have faced or are currently facing lawsuits alleging their pricing practices are discriminatory.

“As someone who is lactose intolerant, I’ve kind of gotten used to paying $0.50-$1.50 extra to have an alternative milk in my lattes. But recently I went to a coffee shop that charged $1.50 for A SPLASH of oat milk, and I’m honestly over the greed.”
— tai_chilly, Reddit.com

compared to non-dairy milK, dairy milk requires:

3x more ghgs

10X more LAND

20X more WATER

Take it from these coffee champions

  • Starbucks

    "Alternative milks will be a big part of the solution. The consumer-demand curve is already shifting."

    Starbucks

  • "we estimate dairy to be a leading source of emissions from our cafe operations."

    Blue Bottle Coffee

  • "Adding a surcharge for non-dairy milks could make coffee shops less competitive and damage their public image."

    MTPak Coffee

ready to push bluestone lane into the 21st century ?

Sources

  1. Dehghan, Mahshid, et al. "Dairy Product Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease: Pooled Analysis." European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 30, no. 3 (2023): 219–27.

  2. Ali, Fawzia, and Yoon-Seok Lee. "Milk Proteins and Prostate Cancer." International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention 3, no. 1 (2021).

  3. Loma Linda University Health. "Dairy Milk and Prostate Cancer Risk." May 11, 2022.

  4. Nuffield Department of Population Health. "Dairy Products and Cancer Risk." University of Oxford, September 8, 2022.

  5. Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “Dairy's Environmental Footprint.” July 2022.

  6. Ritchie, Hannah. "Dairy vs. plant-based milk: what are the environmental impacts?." Our World in Data, 2020.