A SCHOOLGIRL has shamed Starbucks after a barista told her to “let nature take its course” with a homeless teenager shivering outside.
The coffee chain is “urgently investigating” the callous remark and has apologised to Amy McIlroy, 14, who wanted to buy a sandwich for the boy, thought to be 16.
Amy, from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, said she was “disgusted” and “taken aback” when her act of kindness received such as heartless response.
Undaunted, Amy went ahead and bought the sandwich to give to the boy outside the Starbucks in Exchange Place, Glasgow.
She wrote on social media: “So fkn disgusted. @StarbucksUK went in to one of your Glasgow branches to get some food for a 16-year-old homeless boy who was physically shaking from the cold and was told off a worker that I’d be better ‘saving my money and letting nature take its course’. I’m at a loss for words.”
Speaking today (WED), Amy said: “I was really taken aback when the barista said what he said because I’ve never experienced that type of hatred or ignorance towards a stranger who hasn’t done anything to merit such vile behaviour.
“I didn’t get his name but the young boy looked around 16 or 17 and didn’t seem as if he had been on the streets for that long.”
She added: “My friend was with me at the time and she was saying that the barista was not worth responding to but I told him that it was a disgusting thing to say and that I hoped he didn’t speak for Glasgow.
“There are a million circumstances that could lead to someone becoming homeless. Starbucks should be held accountable for clearly not training their staff well enough in customer service.”
Starbucks are now on the receiving end of a customer backlash.
Marianne Gallagher tweeted: “I bought a young boy (likely the same one) a coffee from that Starbucks on Friday. I’ll take my money elsewhere in future.”
Bethany Scott added: “Wow. Bye Starbucks. I’ll spend my money at Pret instead.”
Another Twitter user added: “What kind of heartless b****** could say this about any human? Hear so many horror stories about Starbucks, you wonder what their teaching/training process is.”
Amy’s mum has praised her daughter for her handling of the situation and thoughtfulness.
Liz, 52, said: “She’s very soft-hearted and has never had that boy out of her head since.
“I’m proud of her. She’s that sort of person who is always thinking of others.”
There has been mounting concern for the plight of the homeless during the spells of extreme cold weather this month.
A homeless veteran died in Edinburgh a week before Christmas while sleeping rough. Darren Greenfield, 47, who sat at the top of the Waverley Steps on Princes Street, died after he was admitted to hospital.
A spokeswoman for Starbucks UK said today (WED): ““We’re urgently investigating what has happened here and have been in touch with the customer directly to apologise.
“We believe in creating a place that is welcoming for all and we are disappointed that this incident does not represent the values we expect in our stores.”
Starbucks have regularly been the subject of tax avoidance allegations and in 2015 were ordered to pay back €30m in Holland.
Last year it was reported that their UK profits had dropped by 60%, although they still turned over £13.4m. They blamed the drop on Brexit and a slowing economy.
Last March it was reported that Glasgow residents were outraged after staff at the Starbucks on Buchanan Street refused to serve a man and ejected him from the premises.
At the time, Starbucks said that they “fully supported” the conduct of their staff, claiming the man was known to them from previous “aggressive” incidents.
Also last year, Carrie-Anne Gale complained after witnessing a homeless man being ejected from a Manchester Starbucks because of complaints about his smell.
