Starbucks China Responds: You Can Use Our Restrooms Without Making a Purchase!

Last week, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz stated in an interview at The New York Times Washington Policy Forum that Starbucks might restrict public access to its restrooms for non-customers.

Howard stated that Starbucks stores serve 100 million customers daily, while the continuous influx of non-patrons using store restrooms as public facilities poses safety hazards for Starbucks employees and in-store customers.

He also mentioned that whether customers or employees enter Starbucks stores, the company must provide them with a safe environment, and restricting non-customers from using restrooms is also meant to reduce employees' workload.

At the forum, Howard stated that employees' mental health issues are currently the "number one problem" Starbucks is facing. The mental health crisis among employees nationwide is very serious and urgent, and it is worsening.

To alleviate this issue, Schultz stated that Starbucks needs to train employees, implement some stricter policies within stores, while also reducing unnecessary workload for employees and further ensuring the safety of employees and customers. Therefore, it's uncertain whether Starbucks store restrooms can remain open to the public.

Starbucks previously announced its open restroom policy following an incident in Philadelphia in 2018, but problems immediately arose. Because of free access, it attracted large numbers of homeless people and drug users. According to American media Business Insider, the restroom at a Starbucks store in Seattle was often filled with blood, and needles and drug bags were occasionally found, putting employees at risk of infection.

Public Reaction and Debate

Regarding this matter, domestic netizens have also engaged in heated discussion. Many netizens commented that neither McDonald's nor KFC prohibits non-customers from using their restrooms! Some netizens believe that as an international brand, Starbucks publicly stating restrictions on non-paying individuals using restrooms shows a somewhat narrow perspective.

Other netizens believe that store restrooms are fundamentally intended for customers, and allowing non-purchasers to use them is a courtesy, while not allowing them is within their rights. Some netizens also mentioned that since public restrooms in European and American regions require additional fees, and Starbucks has always provided free access, this measure is likely targeted only at the European and American markets.

Starbucks China's Response

Regarding the news that Starbucks restrooms might no longer be open to in-store consumers, Starbucks China also responded in the comments section. "That news about Starbucks potentially considering restricting restroom use for safety reasons refers to the American market and does not include our domestic stores. So, it doesn't affect everyone coming to stores to use restrooms!"

Final Thoughts

Whether Starbucks opens its restrooms to non-patrons, and whether consumers will stop patronizing Starbucks as a result, is a free, legitimate two-way choice. Whether it's Starbucks, McDonald's, or KFC, they are fundamentally restaurants and cafes that establish restrooms to provide convenience for visiting customers.

Opening them to the public for free is also these restaurants' and brands' hope to provide convenience to everyone, avoiding the need to "haggle over everything." However, if this indeed increases employees' workload or poses hygiene and health risks, then not opening them to non-consumers is perfectly reasonable.

Compared to European and American regions, our country's construction of public restrooms is very robust. In comparison to the usage rate of Starbucks store restrooms, they truly cannot be compared. Generally, unless absolutely necessary, the public rarely borrows restrooms from various restaurants.

Image source: Internet

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