The US public has been reminded that they would have to purchase something or leave Starbucks after the company reversed a policy that permitted anyone to use its restrooms.
The hot beverage giant, which has 29,000 retail locations across 78 markets, stated in a new code of conduct released Monday that it aims “to ensure our spaces are prioritised for use by our customers.”
The policy, which Starbucks pointed out is something that most stores implement, states that this includes the chain’s cafes, patios, and toilets.
In a nation with few public restrooms, US merchants such as Starbucks that market themselves as a “third space”—a meeting spot outside the house or office—face a challenge.
In 2018, two Black males were denied admission to a branch restroom as they were waiting for a buddy, bringing the sensitive topic of bathroom access at Starbucks into the public eye.
A PR catastrophe resulted from workers calling the police when they sat in the Philadelphia location’s dining area without ordering. Despite their arrest, the men were never charged.
Starbucks implemented a “open bathroom” policy after the scandal, which meant that everyone may use the facilities at the locations that had them.
However, Howard Schultz, the interim CEO in 2022, stated that the policy could have to be discontinued due to concerns about the safety of those who suffer from mental health disorders.
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