A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Ohio will require all customers under 17 to be accompanied by an adult or face removal, the franchise announced last week.
The franchise from Kettering, Ohio, said the policy intends to “ensure a safe and respectful environment for all guests,” requiring minors to be accompanied by someone over 21, according to a post on its Facebook page. The timing coincides with the start of the school year, when teenage foot traffic typically increases. The new rule follows a similar policy the nearby Town & Country Shopping Center implemented in 2022 to address property damage. That policy requires visitors to carry proof of age. (RELATED: Chick-Fil-A Location Bans Unaccompanied Kids Due To ‘Unacceptable Behaviors’)
Local residents expressed mixed reactions online. Critics called the policy overly broad and unfair to well-behaved teenagers. Supporters argued it would preserve a family-friendly atmosphere.
“Nobody there makes enough to constantly remove disruptive teenagers who lack accountability and fear of consequence,” one commenter said, responding to another user who suggested the restaurant could simply remove disruptive customers on a case-by-case basis.
The Kettering location was not the first one to introduce such a policy. A Royersford, Pennsylvania, Chick-fil-A enforced similar restrictions in 2023 after dealing with what it called “unacceptable behaviors.” The Pennsylvania franchise cited loud, profane conduct, food throwing, table vandalism, and verbal abuse of employees.
“Parents, we are not blaming you. Children and teens are learning to navigate the world free from supervision and often push the boundaries,” the Pennsylvania location wrote on Facebook. “We simply can’t let them push those boundaries anymore at our restaurant. We encourage you to talk to your children and ask about behaviors they have seen and perhaps participated in.”