Waitrose coffee change gives grounds for complaint

We have long known there is no such thing as a
free lunch, but now it seems there is no such
thing as a free coffee either.
Waitrose is changing its offer for loyalty card
members so they will have to buy something
before being able to claim a "free tea or coffee" in
store.
The supermarket said it was just a "refinement"
of the existing policy.
But it has provoked mock outrage on social media
from some of the chain's loyal shoppers.
As one Twitter user put it: "A collective gasp from
middle England as @waitrose announces you now
have to *buy something* before indulging in free
teas and coffees."
Another joked: "We will speak of this day for
years to come. Social historians will trace the
#Islington #Coffee #Riots to this act of betrayal!"
The offer of a free hot beverage for myWaitrose
members has not been without controversy.
In 2014, Labour raised concerns about the
promotion, claiming it was hurting independent
traders nearby.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron,
also gave his views on the issue, saying he could
not see why people were complaining about it.
'Just a refinement'
A spokeswoman for the supermarket said the new
policy was "just a refinement" for its customers.
"From 3 April, we'll simply be asking myWaitrose
members to make a purchase before collecting
their cup at the checkout," the company said in
an email to myWaitrose members.
Waitrose started to try out the new approach in
15 stores last year, and now it has decided to roll
out the policy nationwide.
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But for those who might have been sneaking in
the odd free cup of coffee, there is some good
news.
The supermarket said there would be no
minimum spend to claim the hot drink.
"A free tea or coffee has always been one of the
ways we thank our customers for shopping with
us - and that has not changed - we are
underlining our commitment to this much-loved
offer," the supermarket's spokeswoman said.
What else used to be free?
Plastic bags
The obvious one. From October 2015, shoppers
started being charged 5p for every new plastic
bag they used at large stores in England.
The charge provoked fury, and bag-hoarding,
among some shoppers at the time.
But official figures have suggested it has been
effective. The number of single-use plastic bags
used by shoppers in England plummeted by more
than 85% in the first six months, according to the
government.
Meals on flights
Before Easyjet and Ryanair rewrote the rules on
short-haul air travel, passengers could take their
free drink and snack for granted.
But in January this year, British Airways signalled
that era was well and truly over when it ended
the practice on its shorter flights.
Customers on its domestic and European flights
now have to pay for food and drinks from an on-
board menu.
Air
At petrol stations, at least, air is no longer free.
Drivers need to pay a small charge to fill up their
tyres.
The charge has been around for a while, but
Tesco angered some drivers last year, when it
increased the minimum price to use the pumps
from 20p to 50p.
The supermarket says it re-invests the revenue to
ensure that the air machines are working correctly