The coffee chain Starbucks has announced a major rule change as to who is allowed to use its toilets.
The change means branches will more strictly guard access to facilities by backtracking on allowing people to use them even if they had not bought anything.
Set to come into force from January 27, the new restriction will affect North American branches.
It represents a U-turn from a policy introduced six years ago that allowed people to spend time in Starbucks outlets and use their toilets without drinking a coffee or eating a snack.
The move is part of the “back to Starbucks” strategy.
The plan has been announced by the company’s new chief, Brian Niccol, as he attempts to rectify flagging sales, the BBC reports.
A Starbucks spokesperson told the broadcaster: “Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct… is a practical step that helps us prioritise our paying customers who want to sit and enjoy our cafes.”
They added: “These updates are part of a broader set of changes we are making to enhance the cafe experience as we work to get back to Starbucks.”
In October is was reported that Starbucks suffered its biggest slump in sales since COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
This has seen the world’s biggest coffee chain pledge a “fundamental” change in direction, The Standard writes.
Preliminary financial results released in America on October 22, which were a week ahead of schedule, showed comparable store sales fallingby 7% in the fourth quarter compared with 2023.
It was that customers were not returning to Starbucks, which has 1,200 UK stores, because of long queues, “declining standards of service” and the cost of living crisis.
Personal financial constraints have reportedly made customers think twice about the affordability of their regular latte or cappuccino.
Gloomy figures included core US market revenue being down 6% amid a 10% fall in transactions.
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