Starbucks announced on Monday that it would no longer allow people who haven’t purchased something from its coffee shops to stay in its stores or use its bathrooms.
The change was issued in a new code of conduct, expected to be posted in all company-owned North American stores sometime this year. The conduct will also move to ban discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, panhandling, or drug use.
Since 2018, Starbucks has had an open-door policy put in place following the arrest of two Black men in Philadelphia who had gone to a Starbucks for a business meeting. At the time, that individual location required a purchase, or otherwise, it would ask non-paying customers to leave.
But now, Starbucks is changing its direction under the leadership of new CEO Brian Niccol, who previously worked for Chipotle in the same role.
Niccol joins the company as it continues to face struggles and has vowed to make the coffee shops “inviting places to linger” so that they can once again become the nation’s “community coffeehouse.”
As for the new policy, company spokesperson Jaci Anderson says the new rules are meant to help prioritize customers who are paying. Anderson also notes that most other retailers have similar rules.
“We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores,” Anderson said. “By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone.”
So what happens if you’re caught loitering?
The new code of conduct warns that violators may be asked to leave and that stores may call the police to get them to comply, if necessary.