Starbucks expands smoking ban to outdoor seating

Starbucks is moving to ban smoking in its outdoor seating areas. A new policy starting Saturday will ban smoking within 25 feet of its stores.

Smoking is already banned inside Starbucks cafes.

“If there were any concerns, we would hope to resolve it amicably,” said Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley, referring to a customer who might be smoking within the restricted area.

In Washington state, smoking is already banned within 25 feet of business entrances.

Riley said the intent is to expand the Starbucks no-smoking policy to seating areas outside the cafes.

The new rule will apply to the 7,000 stores owned and operated by Seattle-based Starbucks Corp., regardless of whether they have outdoor seating areas.