If you thought checking IDs was just for buying alcohol or getting into clubs, think again. A McDonald’s in Brooklyn has started carding customers, and honestly, it’s probably one of the strangest things I’ve seen at a fast food place. The policy says anyone under 20 needs to be accompanied by a parent to enter. And that’s caused pretty much everyone to scratch their heads and wonder what’s going on.
Why this McDonald’s started checking IDs
The Flatbush location isn’t doing this for fun. According to the franchise owner, groups of teenagers from nearby schools have basically turned the restaurant into their own personal fight club. I mean, that sounds extreme, but the NYPD has been called to this location 29 times so far this year. That’s a lot of incidents for one McDonald’s.
The owner, who’s a Brooklyn-born military veteran with over 30 years in the business, says the ID checks are about prioritizing safety. They’ve also hired three security guards who are posted at the entrances. But here’s the thing – the policy doesn’t seem to be enforced super consistently. High school students have walked right in without showing anything, and security guards have even held the door open for them.
Customers have mixed feelings about it
Most people who eat there say the age restriction is actually a good thing. One customer told reporters she thinks it’s unfair for people who just want to come in and eat their food in peace. Another customer, Dorothy Brasier, didn’t hold back: “Train your kids. They’re sneaky, they snatch your stuff. They’re cussing like a sailor.”
And I’ve noticed this kind of reaction before when businesses try to crack down on unruly behavior. Some folks appreciate it, others think it’s targeting the wrong people. Sania Bolasingh, another regular customer, said the teenagers “jump people, jump delivery workers, jump the security and they terrorize people that are in there.” So basically, it wasn’t just minor stuff happening.
The age limit keeps changing
At first, the restaurant set the age at 18. Then they bumped it up to 20. Which is kind of a random number when you think about it. Why not 21, which is at least recognized as the legal drinking age? One student, Elion Ruci, pointed out that 20 “is not any significant age.” He’s not wrong. It feels arbitrary.
But the real issue is enforcement. If high schoolers are walking in without getting stopped, what’s the point? Does anyone actually check these IDs consistently? The policy seems more like a suggestion than an actual rule at this point.
Other locations aren’t doing this
This isn’t a company-wide McDonald’s thing. It’s totally specific to this one franchise owner’s decision. After trying to manage the situation with just security guards, they decided they needed something more. The violence and disruptions were getting out of hand, so they went with the ID policy.
Other McDonald’s locations in New York and across the country haven’t implemented anything like this. So if you’re under 20 and want a Big Mac, you can still get one pretty much anywhere else without bringing your mom along. The Flatbush location is an outlier, dealing with problems that seem unique to its specific circumstances and location near multiple schools.
Students say it’s unfair
Zehra Demrican, a student who walked right into the restaurant without being stopped, said “It’s kind of odd that you gotta be 20 and then I walked right in.” Another student made the point that they look like they’re just there to get food, not cause problems. And honestly, that’s the main complaint – the policy punishes everyone under 20, even the ones who aren’t doing anything wrong.
It’s basically guilt by association. If you’re a teenager, you’re automatically treated like a potential troublemaker. That doesn’t sit right with a lot of people, even those who understand why the restaurant felt they had to do something.
Security guards are the real solution
The three security guards stationed at the entrances seem to be doing more work than the actual ID policy. Customers have mentioned seeing them there, and their presence alone probably helps deter some of the fighting and chaos. At least, that’s the theory. When I think about it, having visible security makes way more sense than trying to card every teenager who walks through the door.
The last time I saw this kind of setup was at a movie theater that had similar problems with groups of young people. They hired security, and things calmed down pretty quickly. Sometimes just having someone there watching is enough to change behavior. Though the ID policy gets all the attention, the guards are probably doing the actual heavy lifting here.
Is this even legal
Can a business really refuse service based on age like this? Apparently yes, at least in this case. Private businesses have the right to set their own policies about who they serve, as long as they’re not discriminating against protected classes. Age discrimination laws typically protect people over 40 in employment situations, not teenagers trying to buy fast food.
So the McDonald’s is within its rights to do this. Whether it’s a good idea is another question entirely. Some legal experts have pointed out that these policies can backfire and create more problems than they solve. But for now, it’s staying in place.
What happens next
It’s hard to say if this policy will stick around long-term or if other McDonald’s locations will copy it. Right now, it seems like a desperate measure from one franchise owner dealing with a specific problem. The inconsistent enforcement suggests maybe they’re already backing off from it somewhat, or at least not taking it super seriously anymore.
If the violence and disruptions continue despite the security guards and ID checks, they might need to try something else entirely. And if things calm down, they might quietly drop the whole thing. Either way, it’s definitely one of the stranger policies you’ll see at a fast food restaurant. Not exactly what you expect when you’re just trying to grab some fries.
The Brooklyn McDonald’s situation shows how challenging it can be for businesses to handle safety issues while still serving their community fairly. Whether this approach works remains to be seen, but it’s certainly got people talking and debating what the right solution should be.
