"Purchase to sit" signs are popping up in Starbucks stores around China
Taking a seat at a Starbucks in China? Just make sure you're also ordering something there.
A new policy by Starbucks China takes effect across all its 8,000 stores on Thursday, making it mandatory for people to purchase items if they want to sit in its cafes.
Starbucks China said the move was part of efforts to improve the "in-store experience" for customers. The company is facing stiff competition from homegrown brands such as Luckin Coffee.
Starbucks stores around the world have also been wrestling with non-paying seat-hoggers and other undesirable behaviour from customers.