Local Ohio Chick-fil-A to require chaperones for teenage customers — causing community uproar
A Chick-fil-A in Kettering, Ohio, has introduced a new policy requiring anyone under the age of 18 to be accompanied by an adult over 21 if they want to dine inside the restaurant. The franchise announced the change on Facebook this week, citing a need to “ensure a safe and respectful environment for all guests.”
According to the post, unaccompanied minors may be asked to leave the premises. The decision comes just before the start of the new school year and has drawn mixed reactions from local residents.
While some community members supported the move, describing it as a necessary step to curb disruptive behavior, others criticized it as unfairly punitive to well-behaved teens.
“I guess I won’t be eating Chick-fil-A anymore — at least not the Kettering location,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Pretty sad that the good kids are getting punished… How about just removing anyone being disruptive instead?”
Others voiced concern that the policy could impact older teens caring for younger siblings or teen parents visiting with their children.
Supporters of the policy, however, pointed to a broader trend. “A lot of places are moving in this direction because your kids are unruly and disrespectful,” one user argued, referencing similar restrictions at other local establishments. Dayton Mall, Fairfield Commons, and Town & Country Shopping Center — where the Chick-fil-A is located — have all implemented chaperone policies.
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office confirmed that individual franchises are locally owned and operated, allowing owners to set location-specific rules. “This restaurant has set a policy specific to its location, which mirrors that of the shopping center,” a spokesperson told Fox Business.
The shopping center itself enacted a policy back in January 2022 requiring minors under 18 to be accompanied by an adult.
The Kettering Chick-fil-A isn’t alone in taking this approach. Other businesses across the country have enacted similar measures. In March, a Target in Brooklyn, New York, began prohibiting unaccompanied minors after a rise in disruptive incidents, and in February, a McDonald’s in the same borough started checking IDs and requiring customers under 20 to be with a parent or show identification.
As more businesses grapple with how to manage teen behavior on their premises, the conversation around fairness, safety, and individual responsibility continues to grow.
About Post Author
