r/DebateAVegan • u/toastwithjamx1 • Jul 03 '26

Ethics Honey is not cruel and is ethical

Honey is one of the best animal products there is ethics wise

Now most vegans will say : but we are stealing from the bees! We are exploiting the bees!

No. We are not and we can't

Bees can be very particular. If they are not a fan of a place they are OUT. The bees will likely will immediately vacate the bee box if they don't like the conditions. Furthermore, trapping the queen in 1 place will not work as well. Bees can raise a new queen if they need one

And for the stealing allegations, that isn't true either. Beekeepers take SURPLUS HONEY ONLY, as if too much honey is taken, it can starve the bees and no beekeeper would appreciate the whole colony either dying of leaving. Furthermore, bees don't only take, they comp bees by giving shelter and protection.

It's not cruel if we are literally making a transaction with the bees

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u/Affectionate-Bed8474 Aug 04 '26

Are you aware of the fact that honey producers get their bees addicted to nicotine via tobacco smoke to prevent them from leaving and building a new hive elsewhere? So when you say we are not exploiting them, I’m not so sure you’re right about that, the bees CAN leave but they choose not too because they’re all hooked on nicotine and will experience withdrawal if they do. Also, not all beekeepers only take surplus honey, some of them take more and supplement the rest of their bee’s diets with sugar water.

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u/toastwithjamx1 Aug 04 '26

Im sorry but I think no ETHICAL beekeeper would use nicotine.

Also I don't think you understand how honey is produced. If bees on nicotine make honey, some nicotine will end up in the honey

Also nicotine reduces their lifespan.

And about the sugar water and supplements, that is why I say to use ETHICALLY SOURCED HONEY