Starbucks is temporarily ending its "Happy Hour" promo for U.S. customers as new coronavirus cases continue to rise across the nation. The company said that decision was made to avoid any unwanted gatherings at its U.S. locations, which could aggravate the already dire situation.
The company offers its "Happy Hour" promotion once every few weeks — typically on a Thursday between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time. The promo attracts thousands of customers to the company's global locations each time it is held. During the brief window, customers can get two of their favorite drinks for the price of one.
"Given the rise in cases and the current guidance from the scientific community to not gather indoors in large groups for prolonged periods of time, we decided to pause Happy Hours in December and January 7," a Starbucks spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The announcement comes as positive cases in the U.S. continue to hit record daily levels. The death toll in the U.S. has already surpassed 311,000 people with a total of 17.1 million confirmed cases since the start of the year.
Starbuck's president of U.S. operations, Rosann Williams, previously said that their customer's safety will always be their number one priority. In a letter to employees, Williams said that it was everyone's responsibility to "protect each other, our customers, and the business" during the crisis.
Since it was allowed to reopen its U.S. branches, Starbucks has taken a myriad of precautionary measures to protect its employees and customers. This includes closing its seating areas in some locations and reducing its operating hours.
The company also enhanced its drive-thru and delivery operations, including major upgrades to its mobile app.
With its Happy Hour promo now suspended, Starbucks said that will be rolling out new promos to reward its loyal customers this holiday season. The company said that it will also be boosting other promos such as its Double Star Days to compensate. The promo is directly tied to the company's mobile app where users can earn "stars" that they can exchange for food, drinks, and merchandise.
