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  • Jun 15, 2006, 06:31 AM
    excon
    Coffee
    Hello:

    I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

    excon
  • Jun 15, 2006, 06:39 AM
    J_9
    Not on moral grounds, just on coffee grounds, LOL.

    But anyway in my opinion I would have to say no because if this is against your beliefs then you should not be working there.

    Prostitution is against my beliefs, therefore I do not work in a brothel.

    You know more about most legalities than I do, but would this be more of a moral issue than political?

    Just my opinion.
  • Jun 15, 2006, 06:55 AM
    Northwind_Dagas
    Sure! You can refuse to serve coffee. And the coffee shop can refuse to employee you.

    At will employment allows an employeer to fire you for any reason other than discrimination against a goverment protected group.
  • Jun 15, 2006, 07:06 AM
    RickJ
    As a side note, I like the pun of "moral grounds" :p
  • Jun 15, 2006, 05:14 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    Hmmmm, although I have heard many in the recovery community refer to caffeine as their "drug of choice", I am unclear if it lists as an actual drug? And while you're at it excon, check the labels in your medicine cabinet since caffeine tends to wander into all kinds of pain relief and your pantry as it infiltrates all sorts of food and beverages. Doesn't that just grind you? :rolleyes: I think the caffeine lobbyists must have taken lessons from the sugar lobbyists, but now I digress!
  • Jun 15, 2006, 05:49 PM
    Fr_Chuck
    I had the coffee at Hardee this morning, I wish someone had refused it to me
  • Jun 15, 2006, 07:27 PM
    educatedhorse_2005
    If you don't drink it. You shouldn't be pedaling it.
  • Jun 16, 2006, 06:57 AM
    Stormy69
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon
    Hello:

    I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

    excon

    Didn't I read in another thread that you have a prescription for medical marijuana?

    I agree with the others, You should find another place to work, perhaps a headshop
  • Jun 16, 2006, 08:40 AM
    excon
    Hello again, all:

    You should forgive me. I don't work in a coffee shop, I love coffee and have been known to use a drug or two. I didn't mean to deceive. I posed the question the way I did, to find out whether you thought someone (anyone - a pharmacist perhaps) could refuse to serve a customer because of one's own personal beliefs. I could have asked that question, but I think I got a different response by asking the way I did.

    I'm not sure how I feel about the issue. The workplace is not the place for social action. However, a company should not be required to sell a product that the owners don't want to sell - unless the state gives them a license.

    The license (given to them by the people of the state), might require them to do the bidding of the people. It might not. I don't know. What should a state issued licenses do? Is a government issued license (issued in YOUR name) a grant of exclusivity? Or, does/should a license require adherence to particular set of government issued directives?

    Would you support a state that granted exclusive license (meaning you can't get one) to swimming pool that won't let your kind in?

    excon
  • Jun 16, 2006, 08:49 AM
    Stormy69
    Ha ha very clever excon.. LOL I thought you had lost your mind there for a second. Well.. uh never mind.;)

    I have a twist to this scenario.. as an EMT I am required/committed to treating the sick and injured. However, I detest, loathe and would rather painfully kill a child molester. Now say a person I KNEW for a fact was guilty of this crime, came to me in need of medical care.. Morally could I refuse to treat him or her? Because I think child molesters should die a painful and horrible death?hmmmmmm
  • Jun 16, 2006, 04:56 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    I believe the decision about where to work before you accept the job is where the "social action" conscience should take place much like it should before you spend the money buying a product or before you decide to be involved with something. After the fact hits me as self-centered and prompts me to hand out dog-earred copies of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. LOL :p
  • Jun 16, 2006, 06:03 PM
    Jonegy
    I don't know how it would work over there but over here (UK) a military type (can't remember which dept. :confused: ) refused to do a 3rd tour in Iraq as it was against his morals. The Court Martial did not agree :rolleyes:
  • Jun 17, 2006, 07:13 AM
    shunned
    Good point, but grounds for dismissal.

    Is this a good example of winning the fight but losing the war?

    If anyone wants to make a statement of their moral beliefs and values, they might not want to use their jobs as a vehicle to this end. It may be financially implausable.
    Don't we all get paid to do things we'd rather NOT do? Is this a major stressor?
  • Jun 17, 2006, 11:01 AM
    valinors_sorrow
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shunned
    grounds for dismissal.


    LOL Were those decaf or regular grounds? :p
    If that wasn't intended, it's even funnier! :D

    (sorry, I tried to comment on your post but I am fresh out of rep power)
  • Jun 17, 2006, 07:06 PM
    phillysteakandcheese
    Coffee is not a state-regulated substance, so while your individual action of refusing to serve coffee for the reasons cited would be legal, the coffee shop of course could choose to dismiss you since you are unable to perform the basic function of the job.

    An EMT - like Stormy - is licensed by the state and legally bound to do their job competently. Refusing to do so would be illegal, and could lead to legal actions against the individual, the ambulance company, and perhaps the state.


    The seperation comes by the legal responibilities of the job...
    • In one case, you get fired.
    • In the other case, you go to jail.

    :cool:
  • Jun 18, 2006, 12:20 AM
    shunned
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by valinors_sorrow
    I believe the decision about where to work before you accept the job is where the "social action" conscience should take place much like it should before you spend the money buying a product or before you decide to be involved with something. After the fact hits me as self-centered and prompts me to hand out dog-earred copies of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. LOL :p

    So for Thoreau's Civil Disobedience your sending us to Bill Gates? :eek:

    Grounds are decaf.:o
  • Jun 18, 2006, 01:59 AM
    educatedhorse_2005
    That is not true in stormy's case.
    She only has to take care of him on the job if he needs it not off the job.
    The state of Wyoming has the good samartian law.
    So as an emt you are not required to stop and help if he is in trouble on the side of the road or his house.
    You only have to take care of him while on the job.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:00 AM
    talaniman
    If you can't put your personal feelings aside and do your job then your fired plain and simple.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:52 AM
    valinors_sorrow
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shunned
    So for Thoreau's Civil Disobedience your sending us to Bill Gates? :eek:

    Grounds are decaf.:o

    Hmmmm I don't know what happened with that link :confused:
    So sorry!

    (... shrugs)
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:47 AM
    Cassie
    So you are saying if you owned your own pharmacy, should you be required to sell all medications. Such as birth control if you do not believe in it. Refusal to sell something because of your beliefs, (something legal of course)
    In a business that sells those products is no different than a certain religion or government pushing their belief system on you. The big question is where is the line drawn between asserting our rights versus infringing on others rights.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 07:59 AM
    valinors_sorrow
    In a free society where we might not want to risk using our jobs for moral statements, we certainly can use the businesses we own for statements. In a capitalist society, it is the right of a business owner to conduct business any way they wish, as long as its within the law of the land. It is the built-in capitalist-based protection of economic survival of the fiittest that prevents a businesses imposing unwanted or unsupported personal views on their customers simply because those customers can either take their trade to the competition or create competition should none or the right kind exist. :p

    Where it gets sticky is when business grows to the size of non-competition or when government gets involved and tilts that playing field. It is for this reason that I feel we should be as wise in spending our dollars (since its essentially a vote for whoever you are buying from) as we are in selecting where we work. Its all connected so its good to look closer at what each of us is actually involved in to ensure its what we want. I call that mindful living and it seems too many around me are sleep walking instead! :eek:

    Raises my cup of coffee to the interesting thread excon started - cheers!
  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:17 PM
    Northwind_Dagas
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Cassie
    So you are saying if you owned your own pharmacy, should you be required to sell all medications. Such as birth control if you do not believe in it. Refusal to sell something because of your beliefs, (something legal of course)
    in a business that sells those products is no different than a certain religion or government pushing their belief system on you. The big question is where is the line drawn between asserting our rights versus infringing on others rights.

    I can't quite make that leap in logic from the original question.

    If you OWN a pharmacy--as you stated--and you don't want to sell certain drugs, there's no one there to fire you. Of course, if market demands something you won't sell, you may not be in business long.

    If you just WORK for a pharmacy and you refuse to sell the products that the owner wants you to sell, you're fired.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:23 PM
    NeedKarma
    This is the correct answer.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Northwind_Dagas
    I can't quite make that leap in logic from the original question.

    If you OWN a pharmacy--as you stated--and you don't want to sell certain drugs, there's no one there to fire you. Of course, if market demands something you won't sell, you may not be in business long.

    If you just WORK for a pharmacy and you refuse to sell the products that the owner wants you to sell, you're fired.

  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:41 PM
    Chery
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon
    Hello:

    I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

    excon

    Gosh, I don't drink coffee either, quit 13 years ago. But, I drink fruit tea, take Midol and other over-the counter meds - and they all have caffeine in them. I also hope you don't eat chocolate either, it has a drug in it that makes you high if you eat 100 bars at one sitting. The bittersweet is the strongest.

    I hope it's not a religious thing because you are still inhaling the vapors.


    http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_121v.gif
    So, in essence, I guess we sometimes keep or morals to ourselves, especially if we want to keep our jobs. It's all in our choices.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 05:57 PM
    Chery
    http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_19.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_9_1.gif

    Can I invite all to my house to continue this debate, please..

    Please place your order for beverages when you RSVP.

    I just l o v e it!


    Enjoyed spending time and reading from all of you on this thread.


    This one would take days of joy and laughter in a 'coffee shop' in Amsterdam, Holland...
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:09 PM
    ndx
    Im sorry, the post is actually quite humourous. In the same way as someone who hates kids working at a play ground would be humourous, I think you should keep your job, and refuse people the sale of coffee. Just for the sake of it. I think you should also buy up the worlds supply off coffee, and then, burn it all in front of people doing an anti coffee dance. Again, just because.

    Your post made me smile, I owe you a drink. ;)
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:13 PM
    talaniman
    Pass the pint
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:14 PM
    ndx
    Also, if we didn't have coffee, we wouldn't have the "coffee mug".

    And I love mugs. They are the perfect drinking utensil.

    Indirectly you don't like mugs. That makes me :(
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:24 PM
    Chery
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ndx
    Also, if we didnt have coffee, we wouldn't have the "coffee mug".

    And i love mugs. They are the perfect drinking utensil.

    Indirectly you dont like mugs. That makes me :(

    Got a question... Does anyone know where the name 'mug' for coffee mug came from? If this came from a copy-cat that switched from beer to coffee, then that's cheating. Not very original at all...

    http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_28.gif
    Is this a sign of lack of... or too much?
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:37 PM
    ndx
    Haven't got a clue where the word comes from, however, I like to think it was invented when coffee was, so I can be :( at excon not liking them, and be morally upset at his morals.
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:40 PM
    ndx
    Interesting mug fact.

    A mug or coffee mug, sometimes called a beaker in Britain, is a sturdily built type of ceramic cup often used for hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The mug is usually used in less formal settings. In polite society, a tea cup is the preferred method of serving tea and sometimes coffee (then called a coffee cup). Mugs are usually made of porcelain (china) but some are made of Pyrex and some (usually intended for campers) are made of plastic.


    Cool. :eek:
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:41 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    I think this calls for a poll about how many of us drink out of mugs as opposed to cups? LOL

    Main Entry: 1mug
    Pronunciation: 'm&g
    Function: noun
    Etymology: origin unknown
    1 : a cylindrical drinking cup
    To a : the face or mouth of a person b : GRIMACE c : MUG SHOT
    3 a chiefly British (1) : FOOL, BLOCKHEAD (2) : a person easily deceived b : PUNK, THUG
    - mug·ful noun

    Courtesy of www.m-w.com
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:42 PM
    Chery
    Gotha, ndx. What type of mugs do you collect?

    I favor Garfield, and those that used to anger my boss at work.

    I also have mugs of the entire Zodiak in cobalt blue with gold lettering.

    http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_13_9.gif
  • Jun 18, 2006, 06:47 PM
    ndx
    I like those big mugs, those really big mugs. REALLY big ones, the ones that could "look like breasts if they had nipples on".

    The pokadot ones are my favourite. They are a pleasure to drink from.

    I also like mugs with big handles. A mug has to feel good in your hands, and not dribble when you go to sip.

    I don't like cups.

    Do you like cups chery?
  • Jun 20, 2006, 04:40 AM
    Chery
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ndx
    I like those big mugs, those really big mugs. REALLY big ones, the ones that could "look like breasts if they had nipples on".

    The pokadot ones are my favourite. They are a pleasure to drink from.

    I also like mugs with big handles. A mug has to feel good in your hands, and not dribble when you go to sip.

    I dont like cups.

    Do you like cups chery?

    I don't use them much, but I collected cups a long time ago in Japan. I have some rare demi-cups with tortoiseshell inside them. Am saving them to pass on to my daughter. The other cups I collect have to have a special style to them to get my interest. Nothing 'plain' for me.
  • Jun 20, 2006, 05:24 AM
    Stormy69
    I like big cups and I can not lie... Wait how did we get off topic and on to mugs> LOL
  • Jun 20, 2006, 05:48 AM
    ndx
    Im sorry, I think it was my fault ¬_¬
  • Jun 20, 2006, 09:37 PM
    Cassie
    Big thick mugs so the coffee stays hotter longer. Especially the ones with those good morning happy sayings on them
  • Jun 21, 2006, 04:21 PM
    pc0g601
    [QUOTE=excon]Hello:

    I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

    Stop your complaining and find a new job that does not interfere with any of your beliefs.
  • Jul 11, 2006, 12:29 AM
    Landrail
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by excon
    Hello:

    I don't drink coffee. It has caffeine in it. I am opposed to drug use. I work in a coffee shop. Should I be able to refuse to serve coffee to my customers on moral grounds?

    excon

    I have an idea. Become a coffee gourmet! Taste any coffee with fantastic taste and you will be the best worker of this shop. I advise to taste Javaberry. Drinking of it is seventh heaven. Complete taste and flavor, complete aftertaste. Taste it and you will change your opinion about coffee. Just taste.

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