Black men arrested at Starbucks and settle with company

A sign with the Starbucks logo hangs near the entrance to the Starbucks coffee shop in Aspen, Colorado. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

In 2018, the company stated: “Every customer is welcome to use Starbucks’ premises, including our restrooms, cafes and terraces, regardless of whether they make a purchase.”

The code of conduct – which requires Starbucks spaces to be available to employees and customers – prohibits panhandling, smoking, e-cigarettes, drug use, consumption of “foreign alcohol” and engaging in “violence or abusive/threatening language,” discrimination or harassment.” “Misuse or disruption of our spaces.”

Starbucks says it will ask violators to leave the company and warns it may seek assistance from law enforcement.

STARBUCKS CEO DOUBLES PARENTAL LEAVE RELATED TO TURRNAROUND EFFORTS

The rules largely mirror the standards contained in a 2020 post on the Starbucks website titled “Use of the Third Place Policy,” which states: “Sleeping, smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or the Improper use of toilets is not permitted” and “Obscene, harassing, abusive language, hate speech, racial slurs, gestures or actions are unacceptable.”

“We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores. Introducing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is something most retailers already have in place and is a practical step that will help us prioritize our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes or need to use the toilet during their visit,” a Starbucks spokesperson noted in a statement to Fox News Digital.

THE NEW STARBUCKS STRATEGY: WILL CEO BRIAN NICCOL’S PLAN WORK?

A Starbucks coffee cup is seen in this illustration photo taken at the cafe in Manama, Bahrain, on March 5, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO by CLICKING HERE

“This means our cafes, terraces and toilets are dedicated to customers and partners. By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone. These updates are part of a broader series of changes we are making to improve the cafe experience as we work to return to Starbucks,” the statement continued.