Business & Tech

Safety Harbor Starbucks to Ban Smoking

Smoking at outdoor cafe tables will be banned starting Saturday, June 1.

Joe Camel is not welcome anymore at Starbucks, starting Saturday, June 1.

Starbucks shops in Florida and across the nation will become smoke-free, joining a growing number of restaurants and bars that prohibit smoking.

Across the U.S. smoking will be banned inside the coffee shops, at the outdoor patio areas and within 25 feet of the doors, according to a company statement.

Find out what's happening in Safety Harborfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

What do you think about the ban? Let us know in the comments below.

The transition to a completely smoke-free environment will be a radical change for some regulars used to sitting at the outdoor cafe tables to smoke, drink coffee, read from laptops or socialize.

Find out what's happening in Safety Harborfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Perhaps that is why the company has not publicized the change at its neighborhood shops, where the wifi connections are free and customers are welcome to spend an hour or the entire day.

"We apologize for any inconvenience but we are complying with many current and future regulations," was the explanation printed on a card inside Starbucks.

Which is your favorite Starbucks location? Is it the Safety Harbor Starbucks Coffee, at 100 Main St.? Click on the Starbucks Coffee link, review the shop and pin it with stars!

Get the Safety Harbor Patch delivered to your email. It's free. Sign up here.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Safety Harbor