A teenager says she was left 'embarrassed and upset' when McDonald's doorstaff stopped her and a friend from getting a post-cinema meal because they didn't have ID.
Holly Munoz and her friend, both aged 18, had just been to see a film at the cinema when they headed across for their tea at around 4pm on Wednesday, July 5. However, when they got to the door of the restaurant in Cramlington, near Newcastle, Holly says 'aggressive' door staff refused them entry and told them ID was necessary to go inside.
As reported by Chronicle Live, the restaurant has a 'temporary policy' restricting access to under-18s without a parent or guardian due to reported anti-social behaviour. Upset, Holly and her friend headed home before returning with her dad Julian around half an hour later.
Julian said his complaints were then 'ignored' and the same member of doorstaff was 'aggressive' to him too.
Holly said: "It's embarrassing when you are just going to get food and they don't let you in. We had just been to the cinema. We're quite independent, we do everything ourselves. And I just think when McDonald's says it's for everyone, this is bad for the brand.
"It was upsetting. To turn away people just because they are young."
Julian added: "I do understand that we have a huge problem with anti-social behaviour - as does much of the North East - but for some reason the security they have on the door is like if you were going out in Newcastle.
"My daughter went to the cinema and then following that she walked over he road to get some tea. She was confronted at the front door and asked for ID. Surely that's got nothing to do with security. I'd understand more if it was a big group of kids but it wasn't.
"They both work in the shopping centre, they're both students. They're going to university next year - but they can't go to McDonald's? It's astonishing."
After being contacted by Chronicle Live, McDonald's said it had introduced "various measures" in response to anti-social behaviour, but said customers being asked for ID would not happen again.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our people and our customers is our utmost priority, and our Cramlington restaurant has introduced various measures to help mitigate the challenges of anti-social behaviour affecting the wider area.
"These include employing security guards and making the decision to temporarily restrict restaurant access to under-18s who are unaccompanied after 4pm. We continue to work closely with Northumbria Police to understand how we can be part of the solution."
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