Utah Juice and Smoothie Bar Charges Liberals $1 More

The owner then donates money from the surcharge to conservative causes

Thirsty people who go to an eastern Utah juice and smoothie bar get a healthy dose of politics along with their beverages.

The owner of the "I Love Drilling Juice and Smoothie Bar" in Vernal, Utah, which is near the Colorado border, has blended up a big batch of controversy for charging self-identifying liberals $1 more for a 16 oz drink. The shop is owned by George Burnett, an outspoken pro-oil and gas activist. He said he turns around and donates that extra money to conservative causes including the Heritage Foundation think-tank.

"All three liberals have been happy to pay it," Burnett told KSL-TV in Salt Lake City. "We had a husband and wife come in - he was conservative and she was liberal - and he paid conservative for himself and liberal for her."

Burnett told KSL that the pricing system was intended to draw attention to what he sees as over-regulation of the energy industry and the financial problems facing the country.

The shop has gotten some negative comments on its Facebook page and has been the subject of media attention. But the owner doesn't shy away. A news story about the controversy is posted on the shop's web site.

Via KSL-TV Salt Lake City and Think Progress

Is it right for a business to charge people prices based on their political beliefs?

[Mogal]

Gee, theres nothing like free publicity, huh?

[Zazziness]

I'm getting tired of businesses which can't afford national advertising pulling this bs so the controversy will get their name out there. From now on, any that show up because of things like this go on my "ignore" list, no matter which side of politics they're on.

[Realthinker]

I don't think his little juice shop in rural Utah needs national advertizing. The town's population is less than 10,000 and it's miles from any decent size city.

[Zazziness]

@Realthinker Any business needs all the advertising it can get, I believe. But I think this fad of going viral over political opinions is blowing over.

[martydotcom]

Old saying all PR is good

[woodtick57]

i wonder if some of the money goes to support the crop subsidies that support his business?

[Mogal]

Somehow, I rather doubt it......

[Republican5001]

I am sure some one will try to tie into civil rights crap....

[Politicskid]

I don't no if it's gonna make this guy very much money...but if he wants to, he should be allowed to. I'd say the same thing if this was a liberal charging conservatives more.

[Souljah]

haha.. Im gonna hold you to that 1 PK..

[Food4thoughts]

Is it wrong for me to assume this is a bitter mormon(s) stilled chaffed that their Bishop lost?

[thejimbo]

Is it just me or does Spinach, Avacado and Alge smoothie
sould like a liberal drink?

[Food4thoughts]

@jamesmitchell LMAO! Good point... They're really hitting them where it hurts!

[Food4thoughts]

@PNWest
Ziiiiiiiinnnnnggg

[Food4thoughts]

@Food4thoughts
Awe come on PLisa...that was a good one

[Keyjo]

I voted "unfair," but it is his business and he can feel free to disrespect the first amendment if he wishes.
My ex's family lives there. They are the ones who told him, "Son we love you more than anything, but if you are Gay, we will disown you and you will be banished forever!" So you kind of get an idea of the low calibre.

[PuroChorizo361]

I'm sure it's all BS.

[whataGOVwehave]

The business owner can do anything he wants....It would be up to the patrons to do somethin about it.

[AceLuby]

If business was good he wouldn't have to sink to these levels to try to get more money or customers. Gotta love free advertising though...

[Fishbone345]

How hard is it to simply lie? Politicians do it every day. Follow suit.

[Waynestew]

Exactly.

[jessejaymes]

Exactly my thought when I read this.

[SavageMazx]

Gasp....politicians lie?

[Denizen_Kate]

Thanks, I was hoping someone would mention that. How does this business owner know a customer's political leanings unless the customer tells him? This all seems really stupid to me.

[Fishbone345]

@Denizen_Kate It is. Free advertising, that's it.

[mimi57]

It's his store, he can charge what he wants...if they don't like it, let them get their
juice somewhere else. Or...get a Juice , Smoothie Bar business of their own.

[DapperDave]

Brainless stupidity and idiotic publicity seeking at its best.
I'm sure liberals from miles around are flocking to his juice bar to willingly be "gouged" an extra dollar simply because they don't hate the way this kook hates.
The deranged workings of the arch-conservative mind are truly something to behold.

[Mia]

I love it. It is free advertising for him. He draws attention to his business and a cause near and dear to his heart & people can choose to patronize his business or not.

[Cheenoguy]

I hope he isn't too attached to the store. Relying on conservatives to buy healthy food is a poor business model.

[stepped_in_it]

HMM....like the libs food of choice. McDonald's?

[Mogal]

@stepped_in_it I'm a lib, havent eaten there, or any other fast food place in over a decade.

[Cheenoguy]

@stepped_in_it
About once a year I will step into a McDonalds. The people i know who go there frequently are all staunch republicans.

[jessejaymes]

@stepped_in_it I don't know about that. Most the people I see in fast food joints (back when I went to them) were obese, waddling whales that clearly had no interest in politics, exercise, voting, health or anything else. FOOD AND LOTS OF IT! I once was in a line at some fast food joint and an obese woman ordered like 4 hamburgers, large fries, shake, cookies and then turned to the porker 4 year old with her and said "whatch'all want?". He wanted the same but "only" got two double meat, double cheeseburgers. I don't see those people as political.

[NormalFlora]

"Eastern Utah." Have some sympathy, people. That's punishment enough.

[Canoochee]

I don't see the problem. He is just making sure they pay their 'Fair Share'

[Sharpshooter]

The liberals are pissed about this because it displays their flaws perfectly.

They are being charged because of their, obvious to the store owner, politically flawed thinking. Strike one.... Conservatives MUST be tolerant.

They are also being charged because they insist on pushing their agenda where it isn't welcome. Strike two.... Liberal leanings must be accepted openly.

and...

They are being charged a "stupid tax" for not being bright enough to simply keep their mouth shut. Strike three.... How do you know a liberal is spewing his bullshit? He's breathing isn't he?

[cpeter133]

Now, substitute "liberal" with black, mormon,catholic, handicapped, etc, and see how cute the idea is. Opening a juice bar in a small town is an idiotic enterprise to begin with, so let's watch the "conservative" file for bankruptcy and stiff his creditors.

[Canoochee]

His creditors are just evil rich people who are not paying their fair share, don't worry they need to take their punishment too.

Why did you pick two traits that people have no control over and two that they do? Or in your world do people choose to be handicapped or black?

[cpeter133]

@Canoochee Those are all groups that have faced open discrimination in the past. Choice or not, it's still unfair.

[Canoochee]

@cpeter133 This is not discrimination. It's more like affirmative action. Certain groups get preference based on their political philosophy. The guy has not refused to serve anyone.

[cpeter133]

@Canoochee Gee, maybe he'll give them their very own bathroom and lunch counter. Discrimination is treating people differently and detrimentally based on a shared trait or belief. Charging more for their political affiliation is discriination.

[Canoochee]

@cpeter133 So is affirmative action but I see you didn't pick up on that. Nor did you gripe about charging more for Conservatives than crew members.

But thank you for playing.

[Poseur]

Do conservatives even go to smoothie bars? I've never seen one of those places that was patronized by anyone other than liberal yuppies and aging hippies.