Introduction:In recent years, incidents of middle-aged and elderly customers in cafes playing mobile phone videos at high volume, causing noise disturbances and even arguments, have been frequently reported—from Suzhou in Jiangsu to Hangzhou in Zhejiang. Such behavior not only disrupts other customers’ work, study, or conversations, but also puts cafe owners in a dilemma between maintaining a pleasant atmosphere and handling conflicts. This article delves into the underlying causes, common scenarios, and strategies cafes can adopt to address the issue, aiming to enhance the quality of public spaces.

In recent years, an increasing number of cafes have faced a challenge: middle-aged and elderly customers playing mobile videos inside the shop at excessively loud volumes, disturbing others and potentially leading to disputes or even physical altercations. From Suzhou, Jiangsu to Hangzhou, Zhejiang, such incidents have become all too common—not only distressing for other patrons but also placing staff in a difficult position when trying to mediate.

According to multiple reports, some middle-aged and elderly customers watching videos on their phones in cafes often turn the volume up to the maximum without wearing headphones, preventing those around them—whether working, studying, or conversing—from enjoying a quiet environment. Even when approached politely by staff, some react aggressively, including shouting, hurling insults for extended periods, and in severe cases, escalating to the risk of physical confrontation.

Take, for example, a cafe in Suzhou, Jiangsu. An elderly customer was seated, watching a video on their phone at full blast, completely disregarding the surroundings. When a staff member politely asked the person to lower the volume or use headphones, the elderly individual reacted strongly, declaring, “I want to listen, I don’t have headphones,” and refused to cooperate.

Despite repeated gentle attempts by the staff and other customers to reason with the elderly person, there was no change in behavior. Instead, they lashed out verbally at both the staff and other patrons, shouting loudly for 30 to 40 minutes. One witness said they could no longer tolerate the situation, so they filmed the incident and shared it on social media, sparking widespread discussion.

Analysis of such behavior reveals several common factors. One is that many older individuals, due to hearing loss, are accustomed to turning the volume up high to hear clearly. Another is that many have not developed the habit of using headphones, or may even find them uncomfortable or resist using them, thus preferring to play audio from their devices directly.

While the hearing limitations and technological adaptability of older individuals can be understood, such behavior clearly disturbs the quiet ambiance of public spaces, negatively impacts the experience of other customers, and can also harm the image and operations of the cafe. Many netizens have expressed dissatisfaction, believing that even with hearing issues, consideration for others should be shown—rather than letting the overall environment bear the cost of one individual’s actions.

In fact, similar situations are not limited to Jiangsu; they have also occurred in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. According to reports, in early September, at a local Starbucks outlet, an elderly person was playing a video too loudly. When a neighboring customer gently reminded them, the elderly individual responded with verbal abuse. Witnesses noted that the atmosphere became tense, with the elderly person nearly becoming physical, until the police were called and both parties eventually left the scene.

Faced with such situations, some cafes have begun posting signs such as “No playback of audio” or “Please maintain a quiet environment” in an attempt to prevent disturbances through preemptive messaging. However, in practice, many uncooperative customers ignore these reminders, and may even become more agitated when approached by staff or other patrons, further escalating conflicts.

Industry professionals suggest that cafe owners can gently remind customers upon seating, saying something like “Our cafe provides a quiet environment for reading, working, or quiet conversation,” and prominently display messages such as “Let’s create a quiet space together.” In more serious cases, staff can use a professional and neutral tone to remind again, and if necessary, guide the customer to a more private or less crowded area to avoid public confrontations.

Additionally, offering basic headphone rental services—though not feasible for every cafe—can be a thoughtful and practical option, especially in spaces focused on quiet reading or work. More importantly, maintaining a culture of good communication and mutual respect is a shared responsibility that all users should uphold.

In summary, cafes are not just places for beverages—they are important venues where many people work, read, and socialize. When middle-aged and elderly customers play audio out loud due to habit or hearing issues, beyond understanding the reasons behind it, we also need to balance everyone’s needs through reasonable guidance and environmental design, creating a truly friendly and quiet coffee experience.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.