Want to use the restroom at Starbucks? You'll have to buy something first, says coffee chain

The move is part of CEO Brian Niccol’s plan to attract customers, boost declining sales, and improve employee relations.

Starbucks has stirred the coffee pot by reversing a policy that allowed anyone to use its washrooms or hang out at its cafes without making a purchase. Now, people will either have to buy something or get out.

In a new code of conduct issued earlier this week, the company that boasts 29,000 retail stores in 78 markets said it wanted  "to ensure our spaces are prioritised for use by our customers." Its spaces include the chain's cafes, patios, and restrooms.

The move is part of CEO Brian Niccol’s plan to attract customers, boost declining sales, and improve employee relations. A Starbucks spokesperson was quoted by CNN as saying that the changes are a “practical step that helps us prioritise our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes or need to use the restroom during their visit. By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone.”

The question of bathroom access has been a fraught one for Starbucks, with the issue thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when two Black men were refused access to a branch bathroom while they waited for a friend.

When they sat in the Philadelphia location's seating area without ordering, staff called the police, sparking a PR disaster. The men were arrested but never charged.

Following the debacle, Starbucks adopted an "open bathroom" policy meaning its restrooms -- at the cafes that had them -- would be open to all.

But in 2022 interim chief executive Howard Schultz said the policy might have to end, owing to safety issues from people with mental health problems.

(With inputs from AFP)