Starbucks Expels On-Duty Police Officers: Police Eating at Starbucks Entrance Affects Brand Image

Controversy Over Police Officers Eating at Starbucks Entrance

Last night, a screenshot from a WeChat Moments post went viral on Weibo:

Many who saw it had the same reaction: speechless. But the follow-up to the incident is what truly made netizens "explode."

It being a weekend, Ciqikou Ancient Town — a major tourist attraction in Chongqing — was packed with visitors. The local jurisdiction deployed additional police officers to maintain order and serve the public, most of them stationed near the tourist center and the busiest spots. Come lunchtime, the officers — perhaps worried that leaving for a meal would leave their posts short-handed — sat down at the outdoor tables of the Starbucks next to the Ciqikou Tourist Center to eat, so that citizens could spot them immediately if they needed help.

Halfway through the meal, Starbucks staff came out and asked: "Could you eat somewhere else? You're affecting our brand image like this." The officers had little choice; they finished quickly, and before leaving they wiped the table spotlessly, leaving no trash behind. Even so, Starbucks staff called the relevant departments to complain about on-duty police officers eating at the store's entrance.

Public Reaction and Police Regulations

Why would Starbucks staff believe that on-duty officers eating at the entrance would hurt the brand's image? A prominent netizen weighed in with a comment, along with an excerpt supposedly from the "Internal Service Regulations of People's Police of Public Security Organs":

The same netizen also questioned a Weibo post by a police officer:

The questioned officer responded as follows:

Other officers likewise explained why police sometimes eat boxed meals by the roadside:

Fact-Checking and Misinformation

While netizens were hotly debating whether it was appropriate for on-duty officers to eat boxed meals in public, sharp-eyed users discovered that the "Article 17" excerpt of the "Internal Service Regulations of People's Police of Public Security Organs" posted by the prominent netizen was not accurate!

The netizen had actually pulled text from the "Provisions on the Management of Police Uniforms of Public Security Organs" and stitched together multiple provisions into a so-called "excerpt" of the internal service regulations. Setting aside everything else, that netizen should probably brace for the public security department to invite them in for a "coffee."

Public Outrage and Corporate Response

Other netizens also commented on the idea that "on-duty officers eating at the entrance would affect Starbucks' brand image":

Regarding the incident, Starbucks customer service stated: "We are verifying with the store involved, and if confirmed, we will discipline the employees involved..." They also noted that Starbucks has no rule prohibiting eating at the store entrance. Meanwhile, a Weibo post from someone claiming to have been present appeared in the comments:

Netizens raised several questions about that post: If the staff had politely asked and guided the officers elsewhere, why file a complaint afterward? Does Starbucks provide dining space for public servants on duty? And was it customers who asked the staff to "discourage" the officers, or the staff's own initiative?

Previous Similar Incidents

Similar incidents have happened both abroad and at home. In July 2019, a Starbucks in the United States publicly apologized after asking police officers drinking coffee in the store to leave — the reason given was that the officers made customers feel "unsafe." In August 2021, a Starbucks at Songshan Wanda likewise "discouraged" officers, "fearing it would affect the brand image."

As of the time of writing, Starbucks China has made no official statement on this incident.

Image source: Weibo, Internet

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