"Enough Is Enough"... Starbucks Finally Takes Drastic Action

Complete Ban on Outside Food and Beverages in Stores
Exception Made for Baby Food for Customers with Infants

Starbucks, which had previously taken a relatively tolerant stance toward outside food, recently posted a notice announcing a complete ban on the consumption of outside food and beverages inside its stores. This change marks a shift away from the company’s previous policy of promoting an “open space” and instead focuses on establishing order and strengthening store management. Starbucks culture appears to be moving from “openness” to “management.”

"An Unavoidable Decision for Hygiene and Order"

Starbucks has made a decisive move to completely ban the consumption of outside food and beverages within its stores to maintain order. Starbucks website

Starting on October 13, Starbucks began restricting the entry of outside food and beverages at all stores nationwide and placed notices about the new policy throughout its locations. A Starbucks representative explained, “We have implemented restrictions on the consumption of outside food and beverages so that all customers can enjoy a comfortable environment. This measure is intended to maintain hygiene and order within our stores.” However, the consumption of baby food by customers accompanied by infants is exceptionally permitted.

Until now, Starbucks had implicitly allowed the consumption of outside food, as long as it was not strongly scented. However, some customers exploited this leniency by consuming only outside food without making a purchase or by bringing in lunchboxes, leading to excessive behavior that caused frequent congestion and inconvenience within the stores.

Last September, a customer was caught bringing and eating a tteokbokki and fried food set inside a Starbucks store. Screenshot from an online community.

Most online users welcomed the news. Comments posted online included, “This should have been done sooner,” “Some people even bring in snack sets to eat,” “The perspective of business owners should be considered,” “If consideration continues, people start to think it’s their right,” “Some people drink coffee from other shops here-they should be asked to leave,” and “Do we really need a notice for this?”

From "Open Space" to "Managed Space"

The founding philosophy of Starbucks was “selling space, not just coffee.” Former Chairman Howard Schultz envisioned Starbucks as a “third place”-neither home (first place) nor workplace (second place). The “open culture” that allowed customers to sit without ordering and freely use Wi-Fi and electrical outlets helped make Starbucks a cultural icon.

However, the situation changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. With fewer seats and a shift toward takeout, Starbucks’ identity as a “place to stay” became less prominent. The number of so-called “free guests” who stayed for long periods without making a purchase increased, leaving paying customers with nowhere to sit. In some locations, safety issues such as homelessness, smoking, and violence also arose. As a result, Starbucks appears to be shifting from being a “space open to everyone” to a “space for users.”