Starbucks Smoking Ban

[docrx]

Certainly caffeine and their sugared offerings are so very healthy for you. They are idiots!

 

[oklansas]

I just read a news article confirming the smoking ban within 25 ft. at ALL Starbucks chains. They claim it is to create a "healthy environment" around their stores.
But, here is my hangup - how can they "ban" all smoking within 25 ft. - especially in city stores that abut public streets? Twenty-five feet is a long distance for their to try an enforce when they are using a permit for outside seating on city streets. Unless the city has an ordinance of its own for smoking near buildings, you might be able to just ignore Starbucks (if their outside seating is on a city street and the city has no enforcement ordinance).

 

[chagovatoloco]

Ya, that is what I was referring to. But you did a better job of explaining it.

 

[philip]

I like Starbucks.
I don't drink the fancy coffees and their drip coffee is good and no more expensive than the other coffee shops around. Plus they give me a free cup of coffee after every dozen cups or so. It's a comfortable place to sit and they have wifi, so I can check my emails, visit the web or download a book from the library.
On the rare occasions when I have visited Seattle on an early Saturday morning, Starbucks were the only shops open. When I want a caffeine fix it's nice to have someplace reliable.
The kids that work at the local shop near the marina are all friendly and polite. And either they are good actors or they are genuinely glad to see me. They never ask about my political views or preferences and only make me feel welcome. I couldn't care less about the CEO's opinions. (He doesn't serve the coffee.)
As far as the smoking ban goes, that doesn't make any difference here in Washington where there is a smoking ban 25 feet from any business entrance. I place the blame for that squarely on the many cigarette smokers who insist on treating the world like their own personal ashtray. I think it's shameful that I should have to pick my way through the dirty cigarette butts just to get to a store entrance. If smoking bans will help clean things up, then I am all for them.
I do think it's unfair that pipe smokers should be lumped together with cigarette smokers and so I have been a conscientious objector in parks with smoking bans and nobody has bothered me yet.

 

[captainbob]

Going back to my issue, I am shocked that a successful business-owner would insist, through very clear remarks, that anyone who does not promote gay-marriage should buy coffee and shares of stock somewhere else. I see this attitude as totally stupid from a business point of view. I choose not to support Starbuck's any longer. My pre-paid card is in the trash. As for the non-smoking policy, that is his choice or the letter of the Law depending on the location. He can do whatever he wants in that regard (without me as a patron). Keep in mind that I have not given you my point of view on gay-marriage and I shall not. I am just outraged at a CEO telling me that my business is not welcome if I do not share his point of view on a political matter!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[oklansas]

I place the blame for that squarely on the many cigarette smokers who insist on treating the world like their own personal ashtray.

@Philip - Indeed! The average proclivity to flick butts wherever they may is particularly obnoxious.

I am shocked that a successful business-owner would insist, through very clear remarks, that anyone who does not promote gay-marriage should buy coffee and shares of stock somewhere else.

@captainbob - I understand your issue and your frustration (IMO, I think counter-productive for anyone to categorically dismiss the viewpoint of those who do not agree with him). But, it is Howard Schultz's right to run Starbucks as he sees fit, as the CEO of the company. Ultimately, the only people he is beholden to is his shareholders, and if they disagree with his statements they can fire him.
I've always thought it was a mistake for any major company in U.S. to involve themselves in significant social debates. Because when it gets down to it, it doesn't really matter what Starbucks has to say about marriage equality, what Koch Industries have to say about abortion, or really what any other major company feels like declaring...
What matters is what the voters say.

 

[foggymountain]

We haven't been able to smoke in the NYC Starbucks shops for many years. If we could, they would be likely to ban pipes & cigars. But at least there is no 25 foot rule here. No Parking lots either. You stand right in front of anyplace to smoke.

 

[ssjones]

Vote with your dollars. Unfortunately, I doubt Starbucks will feel the pinch from losing any pipe/cigar smoker business.

 

[sjpipesmoker]

FCUK starbucks
I make my coffee at home, better, cheaper and I can do what I want without anysone saying otherwise

 

[theboz]

My state cut out all smoking in buildings when I was too young to smoke. Although places like Cigars International, and the local Smoker Friendly must have some provision to allow it as a place that makes their main income from tobacco. So I have been used to the smoking ban for a while.

 

[andrew]

I cut up my Starbucks Card a month ago when the CEO said something similar to the affect that if customers don't support Gay Marriage they can go buy their coffee somewhere else

+1, in my city they have these rainbow flag stickers on certain restaurants and places advertising that they're welcoming for gays and transgenders etc.... The way I see it, you should just be welcoming to people paying money, as nowaday's you don't welcome these types you can expect a lawsuit. Personally starbucks is way overpriced and I hate coffee shops, full of liberal hippies sitting there stinking up the place with their patchouli scents covering their smelly dreadlocks. Overpriced to say the least. I brew my own coffee and smoke my pipe at home, I'm also borderline anti-social and just don't like social places. Maybe the world has made me bitter, or maybe I've just smartened up. I used to live in coffee houses practically in my confused youth days.

 

[phred]

I've always thought it was a mistake for any major company in U.S. to involve themselves in significant social debates.

Pretty much this. CEOs have every right to hold political opinions, and to fund campaigns that they agree with (whether it's Starbucks and gay marriage, or Chick-Fil-A and traditional marriage...). They may be surprised to learn which of their customers happen to agree if they make their opinions (and/or their contributions) public.
As for me, I've never actually set foot in a Chick-Fil-A and it's been a good long while since I entered a Starbucks - though it has less to do with politics (since I tend to think the government shouldn't be sanctioning a religious tradition in the first place) and more to do with paying attention to my own personal health.

 

[mustanggt]

I think it is utterly stupid to picket and protest a business for doing what they do. It's a total waste of my time. Just pick up your money and find somewhere else to spend it with someone you don't mind giving it to. I've always liked Starbucks coffee ground and taken home to be made the way I like it. Their coffee is made too inconsistent for me to drink any of there drip and I refuse to drink their milk shakes. I don't care for their politics so I will take my money where it will be more welcome. That's all, I just change the channel. As I was reading this thread I searched for other local roasters and found several so that is where my money will go. It's better to go local anyway. Too bad we don't have a B&M here.

 

[taerin]

It's illegal in my entire state to smoke in a public building, so I was not affected at all :'( Can't even smoke in a bar in the state of Maryland, dammed nanny state!

 

[hfearly]

The saddest part is that hundreds of thousands of Americans have fought the fiercest wars, whole generations have endured the harshest conditions, to secure individual freedom for their children and their children's children - and now this freedom is being whored away for a few cheap votes and the illusion of having contributed to a better world. This whole issue is much larger than Starbucks. You can hear your ancestors cry in their graves at night, if you listen closely... Maybe it's time to take that eagle off the flag for good, use something more appropriate - you know, that says "domesticated", a Schnoodle maybe?
Don't get me wrong I don't say this to get political - heck I'm not even American, but I feel for you guys and it saddens me to see the idea on which the country was founded upon wither away.

 

[mustanggt]

I second what you say hfearly. Our treasured patriots fight and die so that we may live our lives in peace. Then there are those that do not have the courage or the intellect to even understand what sacrifice they make and the price they pay so that they have the right to hate this country.

 

[ciderguy]

I'm generally fine with business owners having a public opinion on a political matter, because I think everyone is entitled to an opinion and the ability to express it. However, there is a difference between expressing one's opinion and regulation of legal conduct. Coffee shops are a public accommodation, and they should be open to legal activity. I personally find that a good cup of coffee is often enhanced by the accompaniment of a pipe. Right now I'm very thankful that there are numerous locally owned places in Portland that are smoker friendly and have excellent coffee.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

a friend of mine who works at Starbucks mentioned to me yesterday, that the day before the ban, when he got to work every single table but one outside had smokers sitting there. They were either smoking or had a pack of cigarettes on the table. There are quite a few tables outside my local Starbucks. If they don't think they're going to lose much business, I think they are highly mistaken. I love Starbucks, but I'm seriously considering not giving them my business if I can't sit outside in the open air and enjoy a smoke with my coffee.