Tim Hortons has confirmed it will eliminate the surcharge for plant-based milk in both Canada and the US following advocacy efforts from organizations including Switch4Good, PETA, and Mercy For Animals, aligning with other major chains removing financial barriers to more sustainable and ethical choices.
“We will no longer support coffee companies who charge a financial penalty for lactose intolerance”
The move makes Tim Hortons—Canada’s largest coffee chain and one of the biggest globally—the fourth major brand to eliminate the upcharge in recent months, following Starbucks in November 2024, Dutch Bros Coffee in January 2025 and Scooter’s Coffee earlier this month. Until now, customers at its nearly 4,000 locations across North America faced additional charges, sometimes up to a dollar, for plant-based alternatives in drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
Advocacy efforts drive change
The decision was communicated to Switch4Good’s executive director, Dotsie Bausch, by Paul Yang, Restaurant Brands International’s (RBI) head of global sustainability. Bausch explained that the change is a victory for consumers who have long opposed the surcharge on ethical, environmental, and dietary grounds.
“We have once again proven our might,” commented Bausch. “No matter how massive a coffee company may be, we have once again shown that we will not back down in the fight for dietary justice. The collective global will of customers is finally being acknowledged: we will no longer support coffee companies who charge a financial penalty for lactose intolerance, a preference for plant-based milk, or cultural belief in abstaining from cow’s milk.”
Animal rights groups celebrate the change
PETA, which also advocated for the removal of the surcharge, welcomed the news and is sending Tim Hortons an assortment of vegan chocolates in appreciation.
“Dairy is devastating for the cows whose beloved babies are torn away from them shortly after birth so that the milk they were meant to drink can be sold commercially instead. PETA celebrates Tim Hortons’ decision and urges holdout coffee chains, like Peet’s, to stop milking kind consumers who choose animal- and planet-friendly vegan milk,” said PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman.
Mercy For Animals also praised the move, with corporate relations manager Jennifer Behr stating, “Tim Hortons, Canada’s largest coffee chain, sets an important precedent with this decision. We encourage other major Canadian coffee brands to follow suit and ensure plant-based options are equally accessible to all customers.”
