Starbucks extends its ban on indoor smoking to outdoor patios and dining areas in California.
(Photo: JoeBehrSoCal via Flickr under a CC license)
Some folks enjoy a cigarette with their cup of coffee. And in states with smoking bans, those coffee drinkers are regulated to outdoor patios... unless you are a Starbucks customer living in California.
California Starbucks fans were given the following statement:
You probably know our stores have been smoke-free for years. Starting June 7, 2010, this will also apply to the patios and other outdoor areas of our California stores. We're making this change because an increasing number of California communities are enacting smoking bans for outdoor dining areas. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."
The outdoor smoking ban does make sense in warmer states such as California, because patios tend to be occupied year round. And does anyone really want to walk through a cloud of smoke just to get their morning latte?
Of course, non-smokers were thrilled about the smoking ban expansion, but smokers didn't seem to mind either. They told the Appeal-Democrat that "it was to be expected" and "the ban is probably a good idea for those (smokers) who are not so courteous".
If the California ban proves successful, will Starbucks take the policy nationwide? Or would coffee-drinking smokers in other states not be so understanding?
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Comments
Interesting move by Starbucks: It's bold to be ahead of the curve and enact such a policy now. I think Starbucks needs to do this as part of being progressive. The cloud of smoke just outside of some Seattle Starbucks is pretty bad. But it seems like in some regions, this would be a hard hit ...
We have a smoking ban here in Chicago and most smokers don't seem to mind. They have accepted it and many even like it as it keeps them from chain smoking when out and about.
It's sad, but I kinda like it. I didn't realize how much tolerance I had lost for smoke until I sat next to a smoker at a park and almost choked.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Cindy! A great post. Yes, I think it's a great move by stores in California. I hope this ban becomes the norm for all Starbucks stores in the US, Canada and the rest of the world.
andrew
I hope this comes to Colorado... we were behind CA with the no smoking legislation but now that we have it everyone seems to be jumping on board so I hope Starbucks takes it nationwide.
sounds good to me.
Here in Chicago, we are lucky to have an abundance of Dunkin Donuts. After over two years, many local neighborhood bars have to ignore the ban to stay in business. The only complaints are from the neighbors of the bars that comply.
"bob" is undoubtedly "generalsn" the infamous spammer who hits every innocent board he can with his boilerplate nonsense.
Giant meth addict took this picture. Do they ban that too?
Smoking is the least hazardous compared to, say, cars, beef, pork around the patio area. Thus they ought to also ban the following:
-Many of their High Calories products which if seen by others, could make them enviable and force them to buy these unhealthy drinks which will eventually lead to obesity.
-Gas & diesel vehicles driving by their stores, as their emissions are worst than tobacco.
- Obese folks as they can be bad influence on the nutritional habits of children & can be offensive to skinny people , they also use more space, & oxygen.
-The Rich, as they can give the poor Low Self Esteem
-The Poor, as they can make the rich feel unsafe.
-Close Starbucks located near a business selling beef, cows are the largest producers of polluting emissions & the smell of cooked beef can offend vegetarians.
-Close Starbucks stores located near a business selling pork , as pork can be offensive to certain ethnic groups (Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, Muslims...etc).
-I can go on an
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