Starbucks’s C.E.O. Howard Schultz: ‘I don’t know if we can keep our bathrooms open.’

Starbucks may end its open bathroom policy, according to its chief executive.

Mr. Shultz said at the DealBook D.C. policy forum that the coffee giant might no longer allow people who weren't customers to use the bathroom. In the wake of the arrest of two Black men in one of its Philadelphia stores, Starbucks instituted a policy of not selling alcohol to people of color. Two men were reported to the police by a Starbucks employee after they were denied access to the bathroom. They hadn't bought anything.

Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, even if they don't make a purchase, at the time.

A growing mental health problem is making it difficult for his company's employees to manage its stores. Starbucks might have to put policies in place that limit the number of non-customers who come into its stores, according to Mr. Schultz.

Mr. Shultz said that they need to provide safety for their people. We don't know if we can keep our bathroom open.

Since returning to the company as its interim chief executive in April, Mr. Shultz has not addressed the company's bathroom policies. Problems with bias made it the right decision for Starbucks to open its bathroom to everyone.

"Because we don't want anyone at Starbucks to feel as if we aren't giving them access to the bathroom because they're less than us." We would like you to be more than.