Starbucks Closes Bathrooms, American Restroom Association Says Public Restroom Infrastructure is Solution
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 21, 2025
Catonsville, Maryland, USA – Following Starbucks’ decision to close its bathrooms to the public, the American Restroom Association (ARA) is urging policymakers and communities to invest in a robust public restroom infrastructure.
“The current state of public restroom access in the United States is unacceptable,” states Dr. Steve Soifer, Co-founder of the ARA and adjunct professor at Adelphi University School of Social Work. “Businesses should not bear the sole responsibility for providing restroom access to the public. People need choices. This is where the public and private sectors can come together to solve the issue. Whether for medical reasons, homelessness, public health, or tourism – the bottom line is that people need access to restrooms.”
The ARA advocates for the following:
- Increased funding for the construction and maintenance of modern public restrooms with a unisex, single occupancy, all gender (SOAG) design.
- Investments in technology to create the “smart restroom” with real-time monitoring and automated cleaning systems.
- Widespread public education campaigns emphasizing the importance of clean restrooms for public health, community well-being, and economic development.
“Investing in public restrooms is not just about convenience; it is a matter of public health, economic growth, and basic human dignity,” adds Candace Blue, ARA Program Manager. “Inadequate restroom access impacts the overall quality of life in American communities.”
The ARA advocates for pooling resources and a collaborative approach for America to lead the world in a modern, public restroom infrastructure.