Starbucks to Require Purchases for Seating at China Stores Starting October 22

Starbucks (SBUX) will begin enforcing a purchase-required seating policy across its stores in China starting October 22, the company said on Wednesday. Stores will display notice signs informing customers of the rule, which has drawn scrutiny after reports of the change trended on Chinese social media. The policy, first reported to take effect October 20, prompted Starbucks China to clarify the rollout timeline. The company said staff will follow unified service guidelines and apply the rule with a "friendly" approach, prioritizing assistance for pregnant customers and those with mobility issues. Starbucks said the rule will be enforced clearly but with flexibility, adding it will continue investing in store experience to maintain its "third space" positioning. The company did not disclose financial details or expected impact on store traffic.