TikToker creates Starbucks’ Bearista duck that goes viral
Starbucks’ Bearista appears to have sold out quickly across the U.S., and fans are scrambling to find creative ducks for the much-talked-about cup.
Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day is just around the corner.
On Thursday, November 13th, customers who order a handcrafted holiday beverage at participating Starbucks locations in the U.S. will receive a complimentary limited edition Grande (16 oz.) reusable red cup while supplies last.
According to Starbucks, the Red Cup giveaway will be available depending on how you order, including in-store, drive-thru, and Starbucks delivery through the Starbucks app, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.
But the coffee chain’s annual giveaway could be affected by labor relations at specific stores, as Starbucks union members voted Nov. 5 to authorize a nationwide strike on Red Cup Day unless a contract agreement is reached.
Starbucks spokesperson Jaycee Anderson told USA TODAY on Nov. 12 that the “overwhelming majority” of its stores will remain open and serving customers on Red Cup Day, adding that less than 1% of its coffeehouses have been affected by strike activity in the past.
Meanwhile, Starbucks said it is “investing in additional personnel to make Red Cup Day a reality,” including adding baristas to its stores to “provide the best customer experience.”
The company says this year’s cups are made from 95 percent recycled materials and feature a hand-drawn illustration of the facade of a Starbucks coffee house by Starbucks designer Yvonne Chen.
After Red Cup Day, customers who take home reusable cups or other cups will receive 10 cents off their drinks, plus Starbucks Rewards members will earn two stars on their entire order, the company said.
Which drinks are eligible for Starbucks Red Cup Day 2025?
According to Starbucks, customers can order their next drink and receive a reusable cup.
- peppermint mocha
- caramel brulee latte
- sugar cookie latte
- Sugar Cook Brave
- gingerbread chai
- gingerbread latte
- peppermint hot chocolate
- white hot chocolate
- hot chocolate
- pumpkin cream cold brew
- pumpkin spice latte
- iced pumpkin cream chai
- Pecan crunch oat milk latte
- Pecan oat milk cut
- Holiday and Fall Cold Foam and Protein Cold Foam
Specifically, Starbucks Christmas Blend and Starbucks Reserve Christmas Brewed Coffee are not included in this offer, according to the chain.
Starbucks union announces strike on Red Cup Day if contract is not reached
Starbucks Workers United announced that unless a contract agreement is reached, the strike will begin on Thursday, November 13, the day Starbucks is scheduled to celebrate Red Cup Day.
The union did not say how many Starbucks stores would be affected. But it said workers in at least 25 cities were planning strikes, with more locations likely to be added. The union cites the wide disparity between CEO and employee salaries in its contract demands.
In a letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Nicol on Monday, November 10, more than 100 members of Congress called on Starbucks to resume negotiations with Workers United, arguing that the coffee giant has the resources to increase workers’ wages and benefits, according to Reuters.
“Our fight is to actually make the Starbucks job the best job in retail. Right now, it’s the only best job in retail for Brian Nicol,” Jasmine Lelli, a third-year Starbucks barista and strike captain from Buffalo, New York, said in a Nov. 5 news release.
Starbucks spokesperson Jaycee Anderson told USA TODAY that the company is disappointed that the union chose to strike rather than negotiate.
“When they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk,” she said.
Starbucks Workers United represents workers at about 550 of the coffee chain’s estimated 10,000 U.S. stores, which are unionized.
Contributor: Melina Khan & Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.
