Starbucks Announces Major Policy Change

Starbucks announced on Friday (5/18) that a purchase is not necessary to spend time in their cafes or on their patios.

Any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer.

This policy change comes in the wake of public outcry over how two black men were treated at a Starbucks in Philadelphia. One of them had asked to use the bathroom and an employee said he couldn't unless he bought something. When the two men sat back down, the manager called the police and the men were arrested for trespassing. No charges were filed.

Starbucks later apologized to the men and said it will close 8,000 US stores on May 29 for racial bias training.

TO read more on the new Starbucks policy, click here.