A Brooklyn McDonald's has enacted a policy requiring patrons under 20 to present identification and be accompanied by an adult, as the venue grapples with escalating teen-related violence.
Brooklyn McDonald’s Installs Age Restrictions to Combat Teen Crime
Brooklyn McDonald’s Installs Age Restrictions to Combat Teen Crime
New policy requires ID and parents for entry, facing mixed reactions from community.
In response to growing concerns over safety, a McDonald’s in Brooklyn has instituted a new policy that mandates anyone under the age of 20 to show identification and accompany an adult to enter the fast-food establishment. This significant change follows a rise in violent incidents, including a recent attack involving masked teenagers who assaulted a security guard and broke a glass door. The community has expressed heightened worries regarding the safety of fast-food restaurants, impacted by increasing youth-related crime.
Amber Bussain, the 19-year-old manager at the McDonald's located at Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues, highlighted a year-long issue with disruptive teens invading the restaurant. Bussain reports frequent incidents where large groups of teenagers — sometimes numbering up to 20 — engage in destructive behavior including harassment of customers and theft from delivery staff. “They come in just to cause trouble,” Bussain shared, detailing disruptive acts such as throwing ice at diners and smoking on the premises.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has been called to the location 29 times in 2025 alone, reflecting an alarming trend with over 100 calls to the venue in the prior three years. This ongoing strife has compelled the management to implement strict measures designed to regain control and ensure safety for both customers and employees.
Reactions to the policy have been polarized within the local community. While many parents and patrons endorse the initiative as a necessary step to restore security, others contend that it unfairly stigmatizes all young people for the behavior of a few. Similar challenges are being faced by McDonald’s franchises across the United States, with many locations opting to increase security measures or enforce curfews to address late-night disturbances.
As businesses continue to tighten safety protocols, a significant question lingers: will this new policy effectively reduce incidents of disorder, or will it merely displace problematic behavior to other locations?
Amber Bussain, the 19-year-old manager at the McDonald's located at Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues, highlighted a year-long issue with disruptive teens invading the restaurant. Bussain reports frequent incidents where large groups of teenagers — sometimes numbering up to 20 — engage in destructive behavior including harassment of customers and theft from delivery staff. “They come in just to cause trouble,” Bussain shared, detailing disruptive acts such as throwing ice at diners and smoking on the premises.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has been called to the location 29 times in 2025 alone, reflecting an alarming trend with over 100 calls to the venue in the prior three years. This ongoing strife has compelled the management to implement strict measures designed to regain control and ensure safety for both customers and employees.
Reactions to the policy have been polarized within the local community. While many parents and patrons endorse the initiative as a necessary step to restore security, others contend that it unfairly stigmatizes all young people for the behavior of a few. Similar challenges are being faced by McDonald’s franchises across the United States, with many locations opting to increase security measures or enforce curfews to address late-night disturbances.
As businesses continue to tighten safety protocols, a significant question lingers: will this new policy effectively reduce incidents of disorder, or will it merely displace problematic behavior to other locations?
