McDonald's under fire for kicking UK schoolgirls out in a store

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A 14-year-old girl and her friend were forced to eat their meal out in the freezing cold as a Siberian storm lashed London after a McDonald’s store kicked them out because of a policy targeting unattended customers under the age of 18.

Lucy Haffenden and her friend were asked to leave the fast-food store in Erith, a town in southeast London, after ordering their cheeseburgers last week because minors without an adult are banned from dining in.

The policy, introduced in 2016 by McDonald’s and KFC, allows kids under 18 years old to order food in certain branches, but forbids them from having their meal inside the store. The restrictions were introduced to combat anti-social behavior, following a spate of incidents including a brawl involving over 20 teenagers and two air weapons outside one of the burger joint outlets in Meir Park.

Lucy’s father expressed outrage over the branch's unwillingness to make an exception at a time a Siberian storm, fittingly called “Beast from the East,” was buffeting the country, bringing icy winds, heavy snow, and pushed temperatures to below zero.

"I think it is absolutely shocking. It's disgusting, they hadn't done anything wrong," the 51-year-old man was quoted by The Sun as saying.

McDonald's allows only two school children in certain restaurants in the UK at any time because of the past incidents involving teenagers./VCG Photo

"Even if there is a policy, surely they could have just said for today they can eat in – then I would have been thanking them, rather than having to get a refund."

The girl and her friend were given a takeaway bag when they ordered, despite having told the server they wanted to eat on site.

"They sat down and then someone comes over and tells them to leave," the father noted, labeling the situation "embarrassing."

According to a spokesman of the burger joint, the behavior of the McDonald’s staff was based on the two-year old policy, which permits only two school children in the restaurant at any time because of the past disruptive incidents.

"Customers are advised of this when purchasing, and food is provided in takeaway packaging," UK newspaper Metro quoted the spokesperson.

The McDonald's representative admitted that the girl and her friend were not "committing acts of anti-social behavior," but maintained that the "the safety of our crew and customers is of the utmost importance to us".