Starbucks China Says Buy Something Before Taking a Seat
Tuesday, October 27, 2026114 words2 minutes195 reads
Want to sit down at Starbucks in China? A new rule says you must buy something first. According to the report, it began on 22 October at about 8,000 stores in mainland China.
Seats can be hard to find when shops are busy. Some people sit without buying anything. Starbucks says the change will help its customers. Many people online supported the rule.
But this is a rule about seats, not a ban on entering. Staff should help visitors who need extra support, including pregnant people and people who find moving difficult. Starbucks has announced no general sitting time limit. Customers do not pay by the hour. Buying something is not renting a table.
