It was explained to me that it’s basically a way to evade the price difference between a venti and two falls (which accounts for our labor). If you want us to split it, you need to pay for two talls, to accommodate labor. If you are willing to split it yourself, i will give you an extra cup.

One person makes a habit of asking for a venti drink, 2 extra cups, AND for us to put whipped cream on it after she's split the drinks. Pretty sure she even asked the bar person to pour it for her.

I don't mind when someone splits the drinks themselves, but I am not going to help you cheat your way out of paying for 2 talls.

Same thing happened at my store
Almost sounds like my situation. 🤔 I just told my DT to tell them we could only give them a tall cup and they would have to split it themselves.

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I don't work at a Starbucks specifically, but my general method should work just as well: if it's not something that's especially expensive, just give it to the customer unless overruled by a superior. Most customers won't remember that you gave them an extra cup, but if you *don't*, you can bet they'll be complaining about the "stingy assholes at \[company\]" to everybody who will listen, at least for the rest of the day. A cup doesn't cost enough to risk alienating a customer. That was my approach when I worked at Subway (and honestly, I *was* overruled by the owner, but she was never there so I just ignored her).

If, as it sounds like is the case in your situation, you *are* overruled by a superior... then at that point, dealing with the potential fallout is their problem, not yours. Customer pitching a fit because the manger wouldn't let you give them a 5 cent cup? "So sorry, but it's out of my control. Would you like to speak to the manager?"

Store should have a price for an extra cup.

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