Starbucks open-door policy change

It's official: Starbucks is changing its open-door policy. After nearly seven years of allowing people to hang out in its stores without making a purchase, the coffee giant has decided to reverse course. Starting January 27, 2025, customers will need to buy something if they want to sit around and enjoy the Wi-Fi, use the restroom, or just chill out.

The change is a response to a number of factors, including the rise in homelessness and panhandling in and around its stores. Starbucks says it wants to create a more "welcoming and safe" environment for paying customers, and it believes that requiring everyone to make a purchase will help to achieve that goal.

The new policy has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support the change, saying that it's necessary to protect the safety and comfort of paying customers. Others are critical of the move, arguing that it will discriminate against the homeless and other vulnerable people who rely on Starbucks for a place to escape the elements or use the restroom.

It's important to note that Starbucks is not the only business that has changed its open-door policy in recent years. In 2018, McDonald's announced that it would no longer allow people to hang out in its restaurants without making a purchase. And in 2019, Panera Bread implemented a similar policy.

The trend towards stricter open-door policies is likely to continue in the coming years. As cities become more crowded and homelessness increases, businesses are feeling pressure to make their spaces more welcoming and safe for paying customers.

What do you think of Starbucks' new policy? Do you support the change, or do you think it's discriminatory?