IDs are now required to buy a Big Mac.
A Virginia McDonald’s has banned customers under the age of 21 from entering its restaurant, which has been plagued by a rise in violence blamed on local high school students.
The golden arches in Franconia, Va., one of several franchises in the area, made the age-restricting decision to protect its workers and rules-following guests from the ruthless teenagers at the nearby Thomas Edison High School.
The McDonald’s in Franconia, Virginia, banned guests under the age of 21 from entering its dining area after a series of violent incidents from the local high schoolers. Google Maps“Due to repeated incidents of student violence, this McDonald’s location is temporarily closed for dine-in service to anyone under 21 years of age,” a sign posted on the front doors reads.
The ban was implemented about a week after footage showing the out-of-control teens getting into a brawl inside the eatery surfaced.
Several teenagers launched into a fistfight and others danced on the tables as customers attempted to eat their food during the chaos, according to the video obtained by NBC Washington.
Customers over 21 who want to enter the restaurant must ring a doorbell and be let inside by an employee.
The store said it worked with Fairfax County Public Schools and local law enforcement to determine the best policy to combat the unrest.
“We love being part of the Edison community and we value each and every customer,” the statement reads.
A sign posted on the front door of the McDonald’s announces the change in policy next to a doorbell for customers over 21 to use to enter the store. ABC7“We’ve enhanced our Franconia Road McDonald’s security measures in an effort to promote a safe environment for our customers and staff,” the store said in a statement to the outlet. “This policy was developed in partnership with local school officials with oversight from local law enforcement. This serves as a temporary fix as we work towards a long-term solution for all.”
The policy is only in place Monday through Friday, and no timeline was revealed for when it would be lifted.
Customers and employees have called out the not-so-civilized behavior by the teens.
“These kids are off the chain. They have no respect, no discipline,” a customer identified only as Stacey told NBC Washington. “And it seem like how they acting, their parents are allowing them to act.
“Like we’re sitting down eating, y’all smoking, y’all drinking, y’all cussing. Like, come on, y’all,” she added.
The fed-up customer sided with the owners for the age-restricting policy, saying the unruly guests were hurting business by driving customers away.
Despite the 21-plus policy, parents and their children can still dine inside, and an adult chaperone can bring up to four children.
The Virginia policy follows in the footsteps of a Brooklyn-based McDonald’s that enacted a similar age restriction policy.
The fast-food joint at Nostrand and Flatbush avenues began only allowing customers over 20 years old to enter its store.
The Virginia policy follows in the footsteps of a Brooklyn-based McDonald’s that enacted a similar age restriction policy. Getty ImagesThe February rule change, exclusively reported by The Post, came after a group of kids wearing ski masks swirled in after school and attacked a security guard, breaking a glass door.
Store manager Amber Hussain said she saw a group of approximately 15 teens enter the store and wreak havoc on the business during her year at the restaurant.
The hooligans are accused of “trashing the store,” including throwing ice at customers, snatching bags of food from Uber drivers and smoking weed inside the restaurant.
