A McDonald's fast-food restaurant in Liverpool, known as the Church Street branch, has implemented a ban on anyone under 18 years old from entering after 5 pm. The reason behind this decision is to address issues of anti-social behavior. After careful consideration, the fast-food giant made this move to protect their employees from recurring incidents of abuse.
Last week, a company spokesperson explained, "Over recent weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of incidents of anti-social behavior in the area with our people being subjected to verbal and physical abuse. We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crime and anti-social behavior, and have temporarily restricted restaurant access to U18s from 5 pm. This decision was not taken lightly and we are working closely with the police to find a resolution and help reduce these incidents."
McDonald's operates approximately 36,000 branches worldwide, with nearly 1,300 of them situated in the United Kingdom. Many of these restaurants offer 24-hour service, making them popular among late-night visitors. To address anti-social behavior, security staff are present during evenings.
Additionally, the company raised the price of their 99p cheeseburger to 1.19 pounds due to inflation. Alistair Macrow, the Chief Executive Officer for McDonald's UK & Ireland, explained the necessity of the price increase. According to Statista, the company's worth stands at $175.5 billion, and it is facing some challenging times.
McDonald's To Increase The Price Of Cheeseburger
While these rules currently apply only to the Liverpool branch, they could potentially set a precedent for other locations in the country. However, McDonald's assures that these restrictions are temporary and that they are actively collaborating with the local police to mitigate such incidents.
One customer shared their experience, stating, "As I was leaving the security guard stopped a man he believed to be a teenager and told him they weren't allowing people under 18 into the restaurant after 5 pm without an adult with them. The man told the security guard he was in his 20s so he apologized and explained that the new company policy meant he couldn't let groups of teens in on their own."
The customer also observed, "I was in the town the night before and there were large groups of kids all over Liverpool One and they were moved on a number of times by security near the cinema and in Chavasse Park". Macrow had mentioned, "Just like you, our company, our franchisees who own and operate our restaurants, and our supplies are all feeling the impact of rising inflation."
The CEO further added, "At times like this, we know that providing great value is important. Since we opened in the UK in 1974, we've committed to offering great tasting food at affordable prices, and that commitment will not change. But today's pressures mean, like many, we're having to make some tough choices about our prices. This summer, our restaurants will be adding between 10p and 20p to a number of the menu items impact most by inflation. From today, we'll be increasing the price of our cheeseburger for the first time in over 14 years, taking it from 99p to 1.19 pounds. Some prices remain unaffected, and some will continue to vary across our restaurants."
