McDonald's location bans anyone under 21 from dining inside due to 'student violence'

Article content

High school students in northern Virginia are not lovin’ it.

A McDonald’s restaurant near Alexandria has banned anyone under the age of 21 after recent violent incidents involving high school students.

According to a sign posted last week at the entrance of the fast food eatery, hungry customers must now ring a doorbell and show proof that they are at least 21 to dine inside.

“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,” the sign reads, according to CBS affiliate WUSA.

“This decision was made to protect our staff, our guests, and our community.”

The note, signed by management of the restaurant, said all ages can still order food at the drive-thru and through mobile options.

“We thank you for understanding as we work to keep our restaurant a safe and welcoming place for all,” the note concluded.

The decision to restrict young people was made to “promote a safe environment” for employees and customers.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

“We love being part of the Edison community and we value each and every customer,” the owner and operator said. “We’ve enhanced our Franconia Road McDonald’s security measures in an effort to promote a safe environment for our customers and staff.

“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. We thank our community for its support, understanding and patience.”

It is unknown how long this policy will be in place, the report said.

That McDonald’s location is near multiple Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and is a popular lunchtime and hangout spot for students.

The school district released a statement that said a nearby high school was informed about the eatery’s restriction.

“FCPS encourages families to talk to their students about appropriate conduct, including in the community,” FCPS said.

This follows a crime-riddled Brooklyn, N.Y., McDonald’s restaurant that restricted access to anyone under 20 unless accompanied by a parent and proper identification back in February, according to the New York Post.

The decision to ban youth without an adult stemmed from repeated incidents inside and in front of the store.

According to the New York Police Department, there were 29 calls to 911 between January and mid-February. In addition, more than 100 calls to the emergency line were made each year from that location between 2022-24.