Starbucks is a great place to eat, drink, and meet up with some friends. However, are you allow to bring outside food into starbucks? What follows is a basic rundown of various things you can and can not do inside Starbucks locations around the country. Let us know ‘Does Starbucks Allow For Outside Food? ‘.
Introduction
To put it simply, yes. You are allow to bring outside food into Starbucks when you use the building. There are however a few conditions. Namely, the food you bring in must adhere to certain size restrictions, it is necessary for the food to be only a small amount. So, no full-sized Turkeys or large Pizzas here, and the food you bring can not be any larger than six inches by twelve inches. Furthermore, this food is required to be contained in a clear plastic container. It should also be noted that you are not allowed to just walk inside and start eating your own food. Starbucks has an interesting set of rules, you are allowed to freely use the bathrooms, the patio, and the café without having to purchase anything, however, if you want to visit Starbucks and eat your own food, you are only allowed to do so when you order something from the store itself. Meaning you can’t walk in, sit down, eat your own food, and then leave.
You may recall a small scandal in 2018 when a Starbucks location in Philadelphia removed two individuals from the premises for loitering. These two individuals were waiting at the Starbucks for two of their friends when they were approached by store employees and were asked to leave. They refused to do so and were eventually removed from the area by Philadelphia Police. This incident sparked a small outrage on social media when the news broke. Afterward in May of 2018, Starbucks released a statement saying “We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect… Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes, and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase”. Since then, Starbucks has changed its policies regarding customers in a variety of different ways which may surprise you.
Are You Allowed To Use The Bathroom?
• As mentioned above, per the companies’ statement on May 19 in 2018, you are freely allowed to use the bathroom facilities without making a purchase from the store.
Are You Allowed To Smoke/Vape Inside Of A Starbucks?
• No, you are not allowed to smoke or utilize a vape inside of a Starbucks. This is standard practice for the majority of businesses in this day and age.
• You have to take other people’s health into account when you go out in public. For that reason, smoking will likely be disallowed in most public stores and restaurants for the foreseeable future.
Are You Allowed To Visit and “Hang Out” In The Store?
Are you allowed to “Hang out” at Starbucks?
• Prior to the scandal in 2018, Store Managers of Starbucks were given authority to remove any customer from the store for “lingering” at the store without purchasing anything. Also extends to denying access to the bathrooms without purchasing anything. This is no longer the case since the new policies were introduced.
• You are not required to make a purchase at Starbucks to use the café, patio, or complimentary Wi-Fi. Starbucks is making an attempt in the last few years for the stores to be a “welcoming environment” for all people.
Can Starbucks Deny Services To Anyone?
• Under Federal Law, companies in the food service and retail industry have the right to deny service to any person, for any reason, at any time. This extends to Starbucks. You can in fact be denied services at the store’s discretion. This however will likely not occur unless you break any rules of conduct for the facility. Put simply, behave and there should not be any kind of problem with you using the store.
Is There A Fee You Must Pay Whenever You Want A Cup Of Water?
• Thankfully, as is standard practice for most in the food industry, you are allowed to get a cup of water free of charge at Starbucks locations around the country.
Is There A Time Limit On The Starbucks Wi-Fi?
• You may remember a time when there was a time limit on using the Starbucks Wi-Fi, it would lock you out of the Wi-Fi after about an hour of use and you could not log back into the wi-fi for 24 hours. Rejoice, dear reader, as the Wi-Fi is now unlimited and still free of charge. You are allowed to use it for as long as you deem necessary.
What is the Policy On Refills For Items You Purchased?
• This one can be a little confusing, but Starbucks has what is called a “Starbucks Card,” if you use this card to purchase a drink, you are allowed free refills on anything you bought that was “Handmade” for the duration of that trip to the Starbucks. However, you cannot leave the store, come back later in the day, and get another refill. The refills are limited to the initial trip and nothing more. However, it should be noted that refills are not offered for Coffee, Iced Tea, or Iced Coffee
Is The Starbucks Wi-Fi Secured?
• It is unfortunate but the Starbucks Wi-Fi is not as secured as you would think, as it is so commonly utilized by members of the public. Always remember that public wi-fi is not the safest, due to anyone being able to connect to it at any time. If you have privacy concerns, it will always be better to use your personal wi-fi in favor of the public.
Are You Allowed To Take Photographs Inside Of Starbucks?
• Any customer is allowed to take photographs inside of the Starbucks location without getting permission from the store managers. However, any member of the press or photography professional must inform the store of their desire to take photographs/video and obtain permission to do the same.
Conclusion
I understand that these rules can be a little bit confusing. However, remember that Starbucks is a business, and they are allowed to operate their business in the way that they see fit. Also remember that they are not without compassion, and in the last few years they have been taking real steps to make lounging and relaxing at their stores much easier. Hopefully, this list will help you understand what you can and cannot do inside of Starbucks.
