Business & Tech
Starbucks Bans Smoking Within 25 Feet of Stores
Electronic cigarettes will also be included in the ban.
This story was written by Carisa Giardino and Rich Jacques.
Smokers are now prohibited from lighting up within 25 feet of a large number of Starbucks stores, according to a company ban that began last weekend.
Hoping to promote a sense of responsibility to provide all customers with a safe and healthy environment, the Starbucks policy change applies to all Canadian and U.S. stores, according to company spokesperson Jamie Riley.
The coffee giant's former smoking policy allowed customers to light up outside as long as they were not on the store’s patio, but that all changed this past weekend.
The intent of the new ban is to restrict smoking within 25 feet of Starbucks' property, if local law allows, according to Riley.
Bayside's Starbucks is located in the Barnes and Noble chain store, located 23-80 Bell Blvd. in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. There is another Starbucks at 215-29 Northern Blvd. in Bayside.
Little Neck's Starbucks is located at 254-61 Horace Harding Expressway.
Also included in the Starbucks ban is electronic cigarettes, which use water vapor.
Tell us: What do you think of the new Starbucks smoking policy?
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