Introduction:A bubble tea shop in Heilongjiang was ordered to shut down within less than a minute—not for any violation of hygiene or safety regulations—but simply because an employee greeted a customer with “Welcome” before asking them to scan a health code. An official report later determined that the enforcement officers had abused their power, and those involved have been held accountable. This article delves into the details of the incident, reminds coffee professionals to be aware of the legal boundaries of pandemic-related enforcement, and explores how similar situations can be avoided.
It may sound unbelievable, but a bubble tea shop was actually shut down just for saying “Welcome.” On November 10, a customer who identified themselves as a market regulation officer walked into the shop. The staff politely greeted them with “Welcome,” and about two seconds later, when the customer asked about drink prices, the employee followed standard procedure by asking them to scan the code first. Unexpectedly, this action was criticized as being “too late—the code should have been requested right after the greeting.”
The customer then revealed their identity, and shortly after, two more people entered the shop. One of them immediately produced a closure notice and, without giving the staff any explanation, shut down the bubble tea shop on the grounds of “not requesting the health code immediately and inadequate epidemic prevention measures.” The entire process—from the man entering the camera’s view to telling the staff “You’re closed today”—took just 48 seconds, interrupting the shop’s business operations within less than two minutes.
The incident quickly drew widespread public attention and sparked an uproar. Many netizens commented that the handling was overly harsh and even completely unreasonable. Some sarcastically remarked, “How is this any different from getting fired for stepping into a room with your left foot first?” Others likened it to a child coming home from school and saying, “I’m hungry, Mom,” only to be told, “You should have said ‘Mom’ first, otherwise no dinner for you”—calling the situation absurd.
According to nearby merchants, this was not an isolated case. One shop was forced to close for a day because its electronic thermometer had run out of battery, and could only reopen the next day after applying for reinstatement. Although no fine was imposed, the sudden closure significantly impacted business. The fact that this bubble tea shop was forcibly shut down just for saying “Welcome” first has raised even more questions.
On the evening of November 11, the official website of Zhaozhou County People’s Government released a statement determining that Wang Moumou, an officer from the local Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, and others had exhibited non-standard law enforcement practices, used simplistic and crude methods, and displayed a harsh attitude during the inspection. In this incident, Wang Moumou and others deliberately made things difficult for the shop under the pretext that the health code had not been requested immediately, abusing their power and creating adverse social effects.
According to the statement, the county’s Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervisory Commission have taken disciplinary actions against those involved: Wang Moumou received an administrative demerit and was advised to be transferred from his law enforcement position; staff members Jin Moumou and Zhao Mou were given criticism and education; and Kang Mou, the deputy director in charge of the County Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, was subjected to a admonitory talk. Additionally, the County Market Supervision and Administration Bureau was publicly criticized throughout the county and ordered to conduct a thorough self-review.
In response to online rumors claiming that “some staff said it was a misunderstanding and that the enforcement officers were imposters,” the statement explicitly stated that this information was false and had been ruled out after verification with the bubble tea shop owner and manager.
Notably, shortly after this incident, the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism issued the “Notice on Further Optimizing COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures and Scientifically and Precisely Carrying Out Prevention and Control Work.” Clause 16 of the notice clearly states: It is strictly prohibited to arbitrarily suspend classes, shut down businesses or factories, block transportation without approval, impose random “silent management,” carry out random lockdowns, keep areas locked down for extended periods without lifting restrictions, or arbitrarily halt medical services—actions that constitute excessive enforcement. The behavior of the enforcement officers in this case directly violated this clear regulation.
For coffee professionals, this incident also serves as a warning. During the ongoing pandemic, while epidemic prevention measures are important, enforcement must be conducted in accordance with laws and regulations and must not exceed reasonable limits. If faced with similar inspections, it is recommended that businesses pay attention to the identity of the enforcement officers, confirm their legal basis for enforcement, and if necessary, lodge complaints or report issues through proper channels. Maintaining good communication and keeping records can also help protect one’s rights and avoid unnecessary losses.
The fact that a bubble tea shop was shut down over a simple “Welcome” may seem extreme, but it reminds us that while enforcing strict epidemic controls, we must also prioritize humanity and the rule of law, ensuring a fair and reasonable business environment.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
