Starbucks bans smoking within 25 feet of stores

I say: Good!

Starbucks Gossip reader George Edmonson says: "I was flabbergasted today when I saw an announcement at my local Starbucks informing patrons that as of June 1 all Starbucks would go smoke free in and around the buildings. The notice cited existing and possible laws. And that was what I found so incredible.

"That Starbucks would take such a position after so loudly deciding not to ban people with guns from its stores because the company said it would follow local laws seems to be the height of hypocrisy. Apparently, the company is scared of the NRA but doesn't fear smokers.

"Personally, it makes no difference to me, other than I'd rather be next to someone with a cigarette than a gun. But the absolute hypocrisy is incredible. When I called to register my thoughts, the person taking the call said they had gotten many, many making the same point."

* Starbucks bans smoking within 25 feet of stores
* From 2009: Blogger aims to have smoking banned at Starbucks stores.

Comments

[LadyKathryn]

I'm confused. They said the smoking ban is to comply with local laws, right? That's the same reason they wouldn't ban guns; they wanted to comply with local laws. Am I misunderstanding something?

Honestly, I don't care much, either way. As long as the inside is smoke-free, I'm happy. But I don't see anything wrong with this.

[frapatte]

Cigarettes and guns are not comparable. I'm annoyed that I'll have to deal with irate customers over this but I can see where Starbucks is coming from, there are a lot of different cities and counties and states all with different nuances in smoking laws and it's much easier for the company to say screw it and ban it across the board.

[George]

Obviously, Starbucks is already in compliance with local laws with regard to smoking. This new policy exceeds local laws in at least some places, a step the company has been unwilling to take with regard to guns.

[just another partner]

also, we do greenscapes several times a day and have to sweep up the multiple cigarette butts. the last time qasa came to audit the store that was one of the ONLY things we got points off for... the butts outside. that sucks.

[LadyKathryn]

I see. I thought places that had no-smoking ordinances usually specified something like 'no smoking within so many feet of the entrance', as well, and that was what was going to be enforced.

[gifty]

well sitting next to someone who is smoking while have to breath in there second hand smoke is in no way the same a s registered safe Gun owner doing me no harm at all.

[BurntBean]

There's gonna be a lot of pissed off workers about this.

[PDxBarista]

Pissed off workers? I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. No longer do we have to say "you can't smoke out here, it's within 25 feet of our door", we can say that AND say no smoking because of company policy, as well as to the other food patios next to our store (within 25 feet of our patio).

[Fractional Slacker]

If 25 feet, why not a thousand? In other words if smoking is so horrible, just forbid it on all SBUX property.

That will work until smokers lobby for minority status. Then they will have special rights bestowed upon them.

[Shifted]

One thing cigarettes and guns do have in common - they are among the only things I can think of that, when used according to directions, kill people. From that side there is consistency in the policies. But not sure how they can say "within 25 feet of the store" when they might not own that property. At the store I worked, if you walked about 2 feet out of the doors, you were on a dry cleaner's property.

[D]

What they really mean (I hope) is within 25 feet of their door WHEN THAT IS THEIR PROPERTY. If the Starbucks is on a public street, their property ENDS at their door. The first manager that tries to stop me from smoking on a PUBLIC STREET is gonna be using the Starbucks health plan.

[Teeles]

I'm not sure why it's against the law to have an open alcohol container in public, but not illegal to smoke a cigarette and inflict your habit on everyone else. Good for Starbucks! As a former smoker, there is no one more arrogant or self-righteous then smokers.

[Soychai]

@D So you typically smoke at the entrance of a business? Rude. You have everywhere in the world to smoke but I guess you're in 'murica and will do as you please. Heaven forbid the non-smokers of the world enjoy a fresh breath of air as they enter or leave an establishment.

[SnowWhite]

Why can't I find anything on Starbucks website about this? I'd really like the read the information straight from the horse's mouth. And personally, I feel for the baristas who will have to bear the brunt of enforcing this policy coming up against people like D (2 posts up from me).

[Barista Ben]

SnowWhite, as an area that has had this passed by the city awhile ago, it is a pain to make people not smoke 25 feet from our doorway.

They give a lot of crap for something the city decided and that they probably had the option to vote for/aganist but didn't really pay attention to.

[Lucy Baker]

I'd say it's against my Constitutional rights in fact I don't believe they or anyplace should have the right to stop me from smoking anywhere I want. Where is MY freedom Only Non smokers have rights? is that what this country is coming to? It was fine with Smoking sections in restaurants and bars, but the non smokers are going TOO far!! I can't smoke in front of Starbucks??? It's not their street not their sidewalk , not their air and NOT for them to decide!! This is VERY VERY wrong! (OH! But guns are just hunky dory??)

[KDH]

...because non-smokers aren't killing anyone by not smoking?

[Kentucky Hunter]

Cigarettes vs Guns

Yes both when used as intended can kill.

Neither a concealed (or holstered) gun nor cigarettes in pocket or purse present any danger to others in the area.

Is anyone else willing to compare the customer smoking cigarette to a customer waving a gun around. BOTH are a danger to others!

[Teeles]

Please show us where it is your constitutional right to smoke anywhere you'd like..anymore then it's my constitutional right to drink anywhere I want or bring my dog anywhere I want.

[Kentucky Hunter]

I'd say it's against my Constitutional rights in fact I don't believe they or anyplace should have the right to stop me from smoking anywhere I want.

Where in the constitution do you find this right?? Maybe you could claim the First Amendment Right of Religion to justify your Burnt Offerings!

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

[Barista Ben]

Starbucks is private property and if they say you can't smoke on their property they can enforce that.

As far as a constitutional right? In my area it's law that you can't smoke within 25 feet of a doorway and can be ticketed by the police.

[That Guy]

@Lucy Baker Please read your Constitution before you cite it please.

Private property is private property. Last time I kicked someone out (diff reason) they told me the same bs, I told them by your logic its my constitutional right to come inside your home and tell you about Jesus Christ.

The next generation of youth are a bunch of morons /end rant

[Crateish]

Good news. And since commercial real estate prays to snag/keep Starbucks in their properties, I'll bet they will be on board with enforcing this policy.

[Sandy]

Today, people smoking about 10 feet to one side of my Starbucks doorway, sitting at a Starbucks table. Not a peep.

[Stevejk]

The OP's logic is beyond me. They have less to fear from law abiding gun owners than all the criminals running around out there with unlicensed guns.

Smokers offend me. They think they are exercising their rights as smokers but their rights as smokers ends when the smoke leaves their pie-hole and enters my nostrils. Their rights as smokers also ends when they toss their ash and butts on the ground and furniture or out of the car window, turning the place into a trash dump.

[Coffeelvr]

So is this in effect for EVERY Starbucks store everywhere? People smoke at the table right beside my local SB entrance. You must walk through the smoke to get inside. So I, personally, like this no smoking.

[Pgh]

I can tell you I smoked a cigar today as well as did my colleague. Nary a peep and they even offered us free refills (we declined and as usual left a decent tip).

[baristajack]

Teeles.. your wrong, the "ex-smoker" takes the cake when it comes to arrogance, Some of you ex smokers are the worst of them all. I think the policy was created to keep smokers away from outdoor areas that some Starbucks have. I am a smoker, but a courteous one..and would not smoke at a table outside any Starbucks. but that is just manners , Society has moved the smokers outside, so now all you ex smokers, and non smokers have just created a situation where all people must pass thru the wall of cigarettes to enter any building..

[Steve]

What upsets me is that they are including electronic cigarettes in this 'ban'. I am an ex-smoker, who (used) to enjoy vaping while drinking my coffee on the Starbucks patio area. Vaping is NOT smoking! As far as the chemicals in the vaporizer? Very little, if any actually get exhaled and even still, they are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Both of these chemicals are used throughout Starbucks products, particularly the bakery items.

The other issue at hand is this 25' away rule. If that is enforced by local laws, that is one thing, however Starbucks does NOT own the property outside of the business, therefore I shall vape to my hearts content less than 10' away at a neighboring business patio area.

[STL-Nick]

We just lost a super loyal customer over this. A guy who used to come twice a day just came in and gave us a huge tip and thanked us for our service to him, but told us because of this ban he won't be coming back.

[Julicifer McJiggis]

Electronic cigs are forbidden? They are not being smoked; hence, they can't be forbidden.
Just another case of the Big Brother Liberals wanting to control the little man.
Where I am, the 25 foot radius includes an outdoor patio area. WTF? I am a NON smoker too, but I have to admit that I get a kick out of these "progressives" like Bloomberg and Starbucks trying to protect us from birth to grave.
This is NOT the american spirit. England tried it to. Think about that before you sheep automatically pull the Democrat lever next election!

[Gerald Spencer]

Smoking is "Lighted" material, it is the wording in smoking legislation. "vaping" is NOT "lighted" material. Even airlines allow vaping. For all the pollution on a city street you think someone smoking 15 feet away is bad, that is delusional thinking on behalf of psychotic people. Private property, if that is what we are writing about, so be it, do it all, that is within one's rights. Now, people, get your disgusting feet off the furniture?