Starbucks Is Making a Big Change—and Customers Won’t Be Happy

While many people may think of Starbucks as a quick place to grab a cup of coffee from the drive-thru, others might view the coffee chain as a central hub for meetings with coworkers and friends, a place to work, or simply a cozy spot to hang out with a cup of coffee and a good book. However, in 2025, your ability to “hang out” at Starbucks is going to look a little different—because if you want to sit at a table, use the WiFi, or need the bathroom, you’ll have to buy something first. 

On Jan. 13, Starbucks introduced a new Coffeehouse Code of Conduct to redefine what a “customer” is in its stores. You may recall in 2018, Starbucks made it clear that anyone who “enters [the] space” is considered a customer, “regardless of whether they make a purchase.”

Now, with new leadership under chairman and CEO—and former Chipotle CEO—Brian Niccol, Starbucks is clarifying that its spaces, including “cafes, patios and restrooms,” are for paying customers only.

Starbucks Announces New Coffeehouse Code of Conduct

“Over the last few months, we’ve refocused on getting back to Starbucks and what has always set us apart—a welcoming coffeehouse where people can gather and where we serve the finest coffee handcrafted by our skilled baristas,” Niccol said in a statement.

However, it seems the coffee chain is only going to be welcoming people to gather there after they buy something. 

“We want to ensure our spaces are prioritized for use by our customers,” the new code of conduct reads. “Starbucks spaces are for use by our partners and customers—this includes our cafes, patios, and restrooms.”

Starbucks’ code of conduct also prohibits discrimination, harassment, violence or abusive language, the consumption of alcohol, smoking and vaping, panhandling, and disruption of the space. If the code of conduct is not followed, Starbucks employees will ask that person to leave and “may ask for help from law enforcement,” according to the company.

The new Coffeehouse Code of Conduct is part of Niccol’s goal to get “Back to Starbucks,” which includes “elevating the in-store experience.”

“People love Starbucks, but I’ve heard from some customers that we’ve drifted from our core, that we’ve made it harder to be a customer than it should be, and that we’ve stopped communicating with them,” Niccol said in an October statement.

The new Code of Conduct has already gone into effect and will soon be displayed across all Starbucks stores. It’s, of course, up to employees to enforce the new customer-only policy. So, hopefully, as long as you’re not being disruptive, rude, or making absurd requests, the baristas won’t ask for proof or purchase in exchange for the bathroom code or workspace in the corner. Otherwise, you might want to learn what the cheapest thing on Starbucks’ menu is.