No longer free: Customers at Starbucks now need to make a purchase to chat online.

Starbucks has decided to cancel the open-door policy that has been in place for more than seven years, requiring people to make a purchase before being able to stay or use the restroom at the coffee shop. Starbucks stated that this move is to ensure the safety of both customers and employees and to create a comfortable environment.

The coffee giant announced on Monday that it will be posting new code of conduct at all its stores in North America, which includes prohibiting discrimination or harassment, banning alcohol purchased outside the store, smoking, vaping, drug use, and panhandling.

This new policy overturns the open-door policy that was implemented in 2018. Back then, two men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia while attending a business meeting because the store’s policy required non-paying customers to leave. This incident was captured on video, causing embarrassment to the company.

The change announced on Monday was implemented under the leadership of the new CEO Brian Niccol. Last year, in an effort to revitalize the struggling coffee chain, Starbucks brought in Niccol from Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Niccol vowed to make Starbucks stores a “place where people linger,” with the goal of transforming the chain back into America’s “community coffee shop.”

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson stated that the new policy aims to prioritize paying customers. Anderson mentioned that most other retailers have long implemented similar regulations.

“We want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome in our stores,” Anderson said. “By setting clear codes of conduct and rules for using the store space, we can create a better environment for everyone.”

The code of conduct warns that violators will be asked to leave, and the store may call the police if necessary. Starbucks mentioned that employees will receive training on implementing the new policy.

During the 2018 incident, then Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz stated that he did not want people to feel “lesser” due to being denied entry.

Schultz said, “We don’t want to be public restrooms, but we will make 100 percent the right decision, handing the keys over to people.”

However, since then, employees and customers have been grappling with disruptive and even dangerous behavior from customers inside the store. In 2022, due to recurring safety issues, including drug use and destructive behavior threatening employees, Starbucks closed 16 stores nationwide, including six in Los Angeles and six in Seattle.