When you’re a kid, McDonald’s is a heavenly place. You get heavily-salted food, heavily-sugared foods, and sometimes even cheap plastic toys. And as you get older, but not old enough to get into pubs or bars without a fake ID, it becomes a vital post-school and college hangout.
But teenagers in Stoke-on-Trent are being denied of this universal experience. Several branches of both KFC and McDonald’s have now barred unaccompanied under-18s. They will only be able to eat there if they are with an adult, and will have their food taken away if they are not.
The draconian measures stem from a twenty-person fight that broke out near the Meir Park area of Stoke-on-Trent a few weeks back. Police made eight arrests and sent armed officers and a helicopter to reports of a fight and gunshots.
McD’s and KFC both gave statements to BBC Newsbeat. McDonald's said:
"We always want to ensure that our staff and customers have an enjoyable experience in our restaurants.
And KFC’s statement:
"It's unfortunate that this is sometimes the only solution left open to us and we're sorry that it will leave some customers disappointed.