Starbucks Smoking: Coffee Company To Prohibit Smoking Within 25 Feet Of Cafes

Coffee and cigarettes have always been synonymous with one another.

Beginning June 1 the java giants, Starbucks, will prohibit smoking within 25-feet of their stores making coffee and cigarettes no more. If you want to light up smokers will need to bewithin 25 feet of its stores, where local law allows. Electronic cigarettes will also be banned at Starbucks locations.

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The Seattle giant already bans smoking inside its cafes. But LA Times Reports spokeswoman Jaime Riley said the expanded rule stems from "a sense of responsibility to provide customers with a safe and healthy environment."

This new rule includes: 7,000 company-owned stores within the U.S. and Canada, regardless of whether the cafes features outdoor seating. Some 4,000 other Starbucks locations - including licensed shops located within retailers such as Target and Barnes & Noble are exempt.

Many states and local jurisdictions ban smoking in public areas. According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, 81.3 percent of the U.S. population lives under some kind of a ban on smoking, either in the workplace, restaurants, or bars.

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Dallas, Tex., for example, prohibits smoking in all indoor and enclosed areas and within 15-feet of any entrance to an indoor or enclosed area.

Cynthia Hallett, executive director of American Nonsmokers Rights, told FoxNews.com that Starbucks will be the first major retail chain to enforce a policy for an issue that has typically been left up to the state. "Starbucks is the first chain to go smoke-free on its patios."

The new regulation set by Starbucks is bound to have some blowback especially in places where they already have anti-smoking laws. Such as Los Angeles, where it's illegal to smoke in outdoor dining areas, near food carts and trucks and on beaches.

"We're pretty optimistic that people will be supportive and at the very least cooperative,"

Jamie Riley is confident that the move is good for Starbucks and believe the move won't affect the business."We're pretty optimistic that people will be supportive and at the very least cooperative," Riley said.

She continues, "We are confident that we can resolve any concern amicably,"Riley said."