Starbucks has always been at the forefront of coffeehouse franchises around the world. Its logo and brand is recognized immediately. Now, the brand is making headlines after applying a new policy to their stores. Anyone can now spend time in Starbucks, and use their bathrooms freely even if they don’t purchase anything.
This new announcement came after public backlash back in April when two African-American men were arrested for loitering in one of their Philadelphia stores. The two men weren’t allowed to use the bathroom, and after proceeding to sit without buying anything, the store manager called the police. People were outraged, claimed it was racist, and called for a nationwide boycott on the franchise.
To diffuse the tension, they created the all-are-welcome policy. It comes with a few guidelines though to maintain the warm and welcoming environment that the brand upholds. People coming into the store should be considerate of others, keeping in mind that Starbucks isn’t a public bathroom.
While the policy is a step in the right direction, one can’t help but think, was it really necessary to implement it? Before the new policy, allowing non-customers to use the store’s facilities was a norm. There was no rule against it unless they were disrupting other customers.
Since the implementation, stores in some parts of the United States have had drug users and homeless people taking advantage of the new policy. Some Starbucks employees and customers voiced out their concerns, wondering how this will impact stores in more urban areas in the future.
Globally, it hasn’t been announced if the the policy applies as well. So far, Philippine Starbucks branches have been more than welcome to customers and non-customers alike. Hopefully, it isn’t a cause for concern for the Filipino people moving forward, as all establishments should bring no prejudice in the first place. While there were a few incidents from other establishments in the past, maybe this new directive can set an example on how anti-bias should be taken more seriously.
What is your take on the new policy?
