'We Don’t Want To Become Public Bathroom' - Pay For Using Washroom At Starbucks? See Report

Hanging out or using the restroom at Starbucks is going to cost you money.

The cafe-chain Starbucks on Monday said that it has reversed its open-door policy that invited everyone into its stores.

As part of a new code of conduct, that will be posted in all company-owned North American stores, discrimination and harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling is also banned.

Jaci Anderson, the spokesperson of Starbucks said the new rules are designed to help prioritize paying customers, adding that most other retailers already have similar rules.

"We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores," said Anderson. "By setting clear expectations for behaviour and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone."

As per the code of conduct, violators will be asked to leave and the store may also call law enforcement, if needed.

According to an AP report, the new rules reverse the open-door policy that was put in place in 2018 after two Black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks where they had gone for a business meeting. Here the individual store had a policy of asking non-paying customers to leave, and these men had not bought anything. But the arrest being caught on video was a major embarrassment for the company.

Responding to this incident Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz said that he did not want people to feel "less than" if they were refused access.

"We don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key," he added.