"Years ago, while working in a Philadelphia coffee shop, I was told not
to charge policemen for their drinks. The idea was to encourage them to
hang around deter crime. In [Charleston] I recently noticed my local
cafe employs the same policy. Sure enough, a couple of latte-sipping
cops were often stationed outside. But isn't this a form of bribery and
hence unethical?"
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Pass My Coffee Cop
"Years ago, while working in a Philadelphia coffee shop, I was told not
to charge policemen for their drinks. The idea was to encourage them to
hang around deter crime. In [Charleston] I recently noticed my local
cafe employs the same policy. Sure enough, a couple of latte-sipping
cops were often stationed outside. But isn't this a form of bribery and
hence unethical?"
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DeleteAccording to Webster, the definition of bribery is this: "Money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust." Although this is what the cafes are doing by not charging the cops for their drinks to do a job they should do anyways, it is done in an unspoken way. So, does it really matter? This policy is not harmful and certainly not unethical because the cafes are encouraging police to enforce people to adhere to the proper rules of conduct, not break them. This "promotion" is meant to "deter crime" not seek favor.
ReplyDeleteTo give a straight-forward answer, the cafe is using bribery. However, as Sarah said, the cafe is doing so with good intentions. It isn't wrong to desire protection for your customers and your business. Also, some police officers may automatically or voluntarily stand and protect the cafe, and so the employees may give them free coffee as a way of saying thank you. However, I also understand that there are cafes that use bribery with ill-will and wrong intent. With this cafe, I don't think that this is the case.
ReplyDeleteBaristas give free drinks to more people than just police officers. It isn't a bribe when they hand one to a regular customer or someone they thought was very polite, its simply a "thank you".
ReplyDeleteWhile these police officers receive free lattes as they enter into the cafe, there isn't a formal agreement between the cafe and the cops where free coffee is given in return for police patrol near the cafe. So, we shouldn't assume that this is bribery. It can be a simple act of kindness. The baristas could be giving the officers free lattes because they appreciate their dedication towards their job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Madison; it is not a spoken contract between the two, it is just to be nice and get them to stick around for a little longer than usual. The cops probably also come in a lot during their shifts, making them regulars. In order to cause people to be regulars, you must be polite, have good coffee, and have rewards for being a regular. The free coffee is just a polite 'thank you' gesture.
ReplyDeleteThe free latte is not a form of bribery but it is more like a token of gratitude for what they do. Also, it is not like they are giving the police officers lattes because they agreed that the cops would stay there and keep an eye out for crime. So no this is not bribery.
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ReplyDeleteWhile yes, technically giving officers free coffee in an effort to utilize their services is bribery, it doubles as a gesture of goodwill. In the barista's mind they are not only doing a service to the police officers, but all of their costumers. By giving free lattes to policemen, the coffee shops are in fact losing profit, not gaining it, so you cannot argue that the bribery is for the company's fiscal advancement. They simply wish to do a service for law enforcers and keep their costumers safe.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way for us to know the true intentions of giving these officers free coffee unless they tell us. I don't know if they are giving them the coffee as a thanks or as a bribery. If they are giving it as appreciation then it is totally okay and ethical. If they are giving it as a bribe then I think its unethical. I don't understand why a coffee shop would really need cops patrolling it though.
ReplyDeleteWhile it could be seen as bribery, it might have completely different intention. Using an officer to keep crime rate down is not technically wrong, however it might just be an act of kindness.
ReplyDeleteWhile it could be seen as bribery, it might have completely different intention. Using an officer to keep crime rate down is not technically wrong, however it might just be an act of kindness.
ReplyDeleteYes Melissa, it could be that they were trying to thank them for their service, but at the same time, the shop benefits from their presence. It is essentially bribery, therefore unethical. Like Quinn, I get what you mean that it's their job so, therefore they shouldn't be given extra. But, it is a controversial line of work. If they want to thank them, then perhaps they could offer discounts like some places do for military personell. #thanksforyourservice
ReplyDeleteAccording to the definition of bribery, this does technically qualify as bribery. Although bribery usually is considered a negative action, this is a form of bribery that would be positive for the coffee shop, its employees, its customers, and the police officers. If this bribery is beneficial to everyone in the coffee shop and also the surrounding areas, I do not think this form of bribery is unethical.
ReplyDeleteNo not really. It helps draw a good crowd and keeps the people who work/good there safe. People are less likely to rob a place if cops hang out there. One of the reasons for this is no one is going to rob a place with the people who can arrest you literally feet away from you. Thats also why you don't here of cop bars getting hit.
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