Starbucks Bans Smoking Within 25 Feet of Stores

Rich Jacques contributed to this story

Smokers are now prohibited from lighting up within 25 feet of a large number of Starbucks stores, according to a company ban that began Saturday.

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 Starbucks' property within 25 feet of stores, if local law allows, according to Riley. The company rule, however, is basically unenforceable on Seventh Street in Garden City. Starbucks is located at 184 Seventh Street.

Village clerk Brian Ridgway confirmed that smoking is permitted on Seventh Street, including the area in front of Starbucks. 

"Whatever the law is, we will comply," said Riley.

Ridgway said "smoking along Seventh Street is far less then it was years ago – which is a good thing."

When asked if merchants in the village's three business districts along Franklin Avenue, New Hyde Park Road and Seventh Street have ever lobbied for a smoking ban, village board liaison to Garden City's business community and trustee Dennis Donnelly said, "The subject has never arisen here in the village. No merchant has ever spoken about such a ban with me or any village official that I know of."

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?