Ohio Chick-fil-A Now Requires Young Customers To Have Chaperones — Following McDonald's NYC's 'Teen Ban'

A Chick-fil-A branch in Kettering, Ohio has introduced a polarising new policy, similar to that of the Brooklyn McDonald's announced last February. The establishment announced a new 'Teen Chaperone Policy' via Facebook last Wednesday, 13 August. The notice dictates that customers 17 years old or younger need to be accompanied by someone 21 and over to dine in.

The fast-food branch also says that unaccompanied minors may be asked to leave. The news comes just before the school year begins in the US, causing netizens to voice out their concerns.

Netizens Respond To Policy Update

The Facebook post caused some unrest from fans of Chick-fil-A, as commenters quickly flocked to give their response to the update. Some found the policy unnecessary for the minors, while some sided with the restaurant.

The branch addressed the timing, saying that they just wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the new policy. They added that they're grateful for everyone's support, wanting to make Chick-fil-A Kettering a safe and enjoyable place.

One commenter noted that instead of a chaperone policy, 'they say they have the right to remove anybody from their property that is being disruptive'. The Kettering Chick fil-A responded, saying that they privately messaged them to address the concern.

Many agreed with her sentiment, with one woman saying she absolutely agrees. Another user said that the concern is a big mistake, and that the establishment was going to miss out on 'a lot of money'.

As for the other side of the comment section, one woman bluntly said 'a lot of places are moving into this direction because your kids are unruly and disrespectful'.

Another noted that she understood the policy, citing her own time dealing with teenagers. 'When I worked at a restaurant in downtown Centerville, teens would come in every Friday and DESTROY our business by the hundreds', she said.

'Some of the kids were fine, but the bunch that were out of line were wild and ruined it for everyone'.

Chick-fil-A Responds To Uproar

As reported by Daily Mail, a spokesperson explained the new policy to Fox Business. They said that every location has its own unique set of rules.

They said that the restaurants are locally owned and operated, with the Kettering branch having a policy specific to their locations. This mirrored the same policy applied by the shopping centre where the restaurant is located, they said.

For reference, the Kettering Chick-fil-A is situated in front of the Town and Country Shopping Center. They have had a 'Teen Chaperone Policy' in effect since January 2022.

Similar Policy Updates in the US

Last February, we reported that a McDonald's in Brooklyn introduced a similar policy. Their variation banned those under-20s from dining in unless they presented an ID and were with a parent.

Their decision followed a violent incident involving masked teenagers, who smashed a glass door and attacked a security guard. This issue was covered by a local TikTok creator with a healthy following, saying that the branch in particular was just 'bad'.

The branch's 19-year-old manager responded, explaining that the restaurant has been facing relentless disruption for over a year. She added that they 'throw ice at customers, steal food from delivery drivers, and smoke marijuana inside the restaurant'.

It has yet to be evident whether the policy has attracted more customers or has driven away families and younger patrons.

Another notable branch that has the same policy is located in Royersford, Pennsylvania. Their branch claimed that unaccompanied teens and children were too loud, not throwing away food, disrespecting workers, and walking in drive-thru lanes.

Their branch said that it was 'not a pleasant experience', as they aim to provide a comfortable and safe environment for guests and staff. For their establishment, however, they noted that anyone under the age of 16 requires being accompanied by an adult.