All good and well, but Israeli software used by various govts can read phones without needing for them to enter a given country, see “Pegasus” scandal in Poland from last year

You make it sound like those poor people at Starbucks have no choice but to please the masses, even at the cost of going bankrupt. I think this is just a boundary of their business model. But maybe bending over and passing a flimsy paper cup full of boiling water through a small window directly above someone’s dick is just not a great way to make money, and it was a matter of time until it was litigated away from the market. Maybe another chain can find a safe way to do this and drive starbucks out of business, you know, innovate. Coldbrew tea, better cup, a tray with a stable center of mass, fill your own cup, whatever.

Follow the god that failed…

You know, there was a trial where they reviewed the footage in detail, probably more than 3 times, and both sides got to point these things out. Are you sure he “fumbled” before the 3rd drink got spilled? Or was it the drinks instability that caused him to fumble?

Also, what stops drive-thrus from serving the kind of tea that you can brew at slightly cooler temp?

It’s up to the business to decide how and what they serve safely. If hot tea cannot be served safely, don’t serve it. Or maybe invest that goddamn extra cent into a cup that does not spill.