Starbucks goes Smoke Free

For those who enjoy a cigarette with their coffee, Starbucks is letting you know this is not the place!

Starbucks isn't just a place for coffee. It's a place where customers can satisfy an array of cravings, hang out with friends, enjoy some free wifi, and all with no hassle. Anything goes! Or… almost anything. For those who enjoy a cigarette with their coffee, Starbucks is letting you know this is not the place! The chain has imposed a cigarette-smoking ban within 25 feet of most company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada. We applaud Starbucks in taking a positive step towards a healthier lifestyle, but it will be interesting to see if this policy pushes some customers elsewhere. Convenience stores for example, which are ubiquitous, sell both product lines prominently, and often serve high-quality coffee at far lower prices. Or, perhaps this policy will give a boost to Dunkin' Donuts. Analysts told the Boston Globe, it will compete head-to-head with more Dunkin’ Donuts stores expanding beyond their northeastern strongholds. We understand the desire to promote customer comfort in and around its stores—especially with smoking bans increasingly popular today and the diminishing number of adult smokers across the country (thus a lower calculated risk for the chain). Starbucks may be able to sweep this in under the societal trend without much backlash.