Be Careful When Ordering "Medicine Ball" At Starbucks - Some Employees Won't React Nicely To Hearing That Name
"Whatever you do, do not ask for a ‘medicine ball’ at Starbucks, or you will get verbally abused."
A Starbucks customer who claimed she was verbally insulted by a barista after ordering the popular "Medicine Ball" drink has gone viral on TikTok. Although it isn't the beverage's official name, people have started to refer to it as such on social media, and Starbucks employees haven't objected until Liyah (liyahxtt) asked for it.
A PSA for Starbucks devotees is included in the TikToker's short video. "Whatever you do, do not ask for a 'medicine ball' at Starbucks, or you will get verbally abused," Liyah says.
"Order a honey citrus mint tea, apparently."
The Starbucks location Liyah visited is not only unclear from the context of the video, but she also chooses not to share with the audience what the barista said to her directly during the conversation.
On TikTok, the "medicine ball" beverage has gained significant popularity among users who believe it may relieve cold and flu symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or congestion. In fact, nutritionists are buzzing about the drink's advantages.
Many TikTokers stated that they had never experienced any issues ordering the beverage as a "medicine ball" due to the drink's well-known nickname. Others, however, noted that the name is divisive since it contains the term "medicine," misleading some into thinking it contains actual medication.
Liyah stated, "I'm ill and I don't know why everyone keeps shouting at me," in the caption of the video. The number of views on her video is around a million.
Both sides of the issue were presented by viewers in the comments, and Liyah provided some background on what the employee had said to her:
@liyahxttOther people said:
@liyahxttStarbucks' Honey Citrus Mint Tea is a refreshing, flavorful tea that is perfect for any time of day. This tea is made with a blend of green tea, honey, citrus, and mint.
The green tea provides a light, mellow flavor that is complemented by the sweet taste of honey and the pleasant aroma of citrus and mint. The tea is naturally caffeine-free and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
It is incredibly tasty, and that's what makes it so popular.
Baristas get in trouble for calling it that:
@liyahxtt
Starbucks offers a wide variety of beverages, including hot and cold coffee, tea, espresso drinks, ready-to-drink beverages, smoothies, frappuccinos, and more. It is one of the most popular franchises in the world and is synonymous with coffee shops.
It is unfortunate that this customer received an unpleasant reaction from the baristas. However, one must be in their shoes to understand.
The popular name for the drink might lead some people to believe that there is actual medicine in it, which opens the door for all kinds of potential malicious lawsuits.
As a result, the company instructed its employees to correct customers. Some states are more stringent about this, while others have looser regulations. That's the only reason some baristas react while others do not.
In any case, Starbucks employees should have been kind and respectful while correcting the customer—not make her feel bad.
