London McDonald’s Sorry After Banning Loitering Teens

Local McDonald’s Apologizes for Youth Ban

Sidcup, England – This urban district of South East London became the site of a controversy when a local McDonald’s posted a sign stating that no youth were to be admitted after 7:00PM. Now, a spokesman for McDonald’s has confirmed that there is no such policy in effect and young people will not be “carded” should they feel “peckish” for an evening meal at the world’s number one fast food restaurant.

“On Saturday evening, the restaurant experienced problems with a group of individuals causing sustained disruption to the restaurant, affecting fellow customers and employees,” she told the London Standard. “As a result the restaurant management took urgent steps to try and prevent repeat anti-social behaviour.”

“The wording of the initial signage displayed in the restaurant was incorrect and we apologise for any confusion caused. McDonald’s is a family-friendly restaurant that welcomes everyone through its doors,” she said.

The youth ban was the result of a frustrated store manager who was trying to reduce the disturbance being caused by rowdy youths loitering the venue. McDonald’s is acutely aware that young people make up an important demographic for sales. However, it is likely that the miscreants they were deterring weren’t generating as much revenue for them as the patrons they were disturbing or potentially driving out.

The local McDonald’s may be allowing everyone to enter their store unrestricted, but it doesn’t explain what recourse they have if they once again encounter unruly youths making annoyances of themselves at the restaurant.

One local blogger weighed in on the matter stating that it wasn’t in the restaurant’s interest to discriminate. Perhaps he will leave the safety of his keyboard and offer to quell the youth next time they cause trouble.

SIDCUP: "NO YOUTHS" sign seen at MacDonald's in Sidcup. Outrageous! And so's their spelling! pic.twitter.com/lcw4MBHxNN

— Kent 999s (@Kent_999s) January 7, 2014

On The Web:

London McDonald’s sorry after banning teens
http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/Articles/10/1/2014/350991/mcdonald-s-sorry-after-london-branch-attempts-to-ban-young-people-after-7pm.htm

McDonald’s says sorry after trying to ban teenagers
http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2014-01-09/mcdonalds-says-sorry-after-trying-to-ban-teenagers/