“We moved on to better coffee spots anyways”: Users roast Starbucks after it shuts down free hangouts policy

Starbucks has officially hit us with a policy change. As of January 13, 2025, if you want to chill in their North American stores or even just take a quick bathroom break, you’ll need to buy something.

The once-welcoming doors of Starbucks now come with a price tag, and the internet is not entertaining the move.

The coffee juggernaut announced on Monday that it’s pulling the plug on its open-door policy implemented in 2018. They’re also rolling out a new code of conduct, banning everything from outside, from alcohol to panhandling, and pretty much any kind of disruptive behavior.

Social media just did not hold back. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) quipped:

“We moved on to better coffee spots anyways.”

Another user chimed in: “They don’t even got good seating to be doing all this.”

“Their coffee isn’t good enough for them to be this big and greedy,” another user roasted.

A user mentioned: “Well that’s how you’re gonna lose customers.”

If that wasn’t enough, someone pointed out the barista pay gap with a side of humor:

“They don’t pay baristas enough to make them pay attention and enforce this 😂.”

“In North American stores’ exactly keep it there only”, a comment read.

“Suddenly I’m on a diet and can only ‘buy’ the free tap water,” one savvy user commented.

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Why did Starbucks open its doors in the first place?

Starbucks decided to put an end to its open-door policy. For almost seven years, you could just go to a Starbucks, grab a seat, and use the bathroom without spending a dime. But not anymore.

This whole thing kicked off back in 2018 after a major incident in Philly. Two Black men got cuffed just for waiting on a business meeting, and the internet lost it.

The backlash was loud enough for Howard Schultz, the CEO at the time, to pull a 180. He rolled out the open-door policy to make sure everyone felt welcome without needing to drop cash.

Schultz didn’t want anyone feeling like they were being treated as “less than” just because they weren’t buying a $5 latte.

At first, this move got all the praise. People could chill, use the Wi-Fi, and hit up the restrooms without even a hint of side-eye from the baristas.

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The open-door policy ends for Starbucks

Over time, things started getting messy. Starbucks stores were getting overcrowded, and there were reports of some seriously bad behavior.

The employees reported feeling more like security guards than baristas, and by 2022, Starbucks even had to shut down 16 locations because things were getting too wild.

Turns out, a lot of people were treating Starbucks like their personal hangout without buying anything, which didn’t sit well with the paying customers.

People who came to enjoy their overpriced drinks were feeling cramped and uncomfortable.

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The new code of conduct for Starbucks

Starbucks finally felt enough’s enough. Now, if you want to chill in their stores or use the bathroom, you’ve gotta make a purchase.

The new rules are all about putting the paying customers first and keeping the space safe. The staff is now trained to enforce these rules, and if someone’s acting up, law enforcement might get involved.

Jaci Anderson, the Starbucks spokesperson, mentioned that this whole thing is part of their "Back to Starbucks" strategy. They’re trying to boost sales and make sure the coffee shop vibe is top-tier again. The new rules also say no smoking, vaping, drugs, or panhandling.