NBC's 'Secret' Starbucks Is On Lockdown

Since the network's pop-up cafe was revealed by the Wall Street Journal last week, NBC has banned people from leaving the premises with Starbucks cups in hand and its baristas have been "doubling as security personnel," the Journal reports.

Starbucks isn't an official Olympic sponsor, so it's not technically allowed to have a presence on Olympic grounds.

The only brand authorized to serve coffee is McDonald's.

A sign now hangs on the 24-hour Starbucks cafe warning NBC employees against carrying their coffee outside the network's offices. Security guards are on scene to make sure everyone follows the new rule, the Journal reports. The guards are also checking to make sure everyone entering the Starbucks is an NBC employee.

From the Journal:

NBC sent roughly 2,500 people to Sochi to cover the Olympics and flew in baristas from around Russia to serve them Starbucks.