An Ohio Chick-fil-A stirred up controversy this back-to-school season after reminding customers of its “teen chaperone policy.”
On Wednesday, the Chick-fil-A in Kettering posted on Facebook that anyone 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or adult chaperone aged 21 or older to dine in. The restaurant said the rule was meant “to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all guests.” Unaccompanied minors, the post added, could be asked to leave.
The reaction online was immediate. “Pretty sad that the good kids are getting punished,” one woman wrote. “How about instead of a chaperone policy, they say that they have the right to remove anybody from their property that is being disruptive?” Chick-fil-A responded to her comment and said they had followed up with her directly.
Others made it clear they would no longer be supporting the location. “I guess I won’t be eating Chick-fil-A anymore, at least not the Kettering location,” one man wrote. Still, some customers simply asked for clarification, wondering if their adult children would be allowed to take younger siblings to dine there.
Not everyone opposed the move. “A lot of places are moving into this direction because your kids are unruly and disrespectful,” one woman said in support of the restaurant. Another man pointed out that other businesses in the area already had similar restrictions. “Dayton Mall and Fairfield Commons Mall both have chaperoning policies in effect. Town & Country shopping center has had one since 2021,” he noted.
A Chick-fil-A spokesperson told FOX Business that the policy was set by the Kettering franchise owner and reflected the rules of the shopping center where the restaurant is located. “Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated,” the company emphasized.
This isn’t the first time a Chick-fil-A has made headlines for similar restrictions. More than two years ago, a location in Royersford, Pennsylvania, announced that anyone under 16 had to be accompanied by an adult due to “volume, mistreatment of property, disrespect of employees, and unsafe behavior.” At that restaurant, minors were only allowed inside to purchase food but had to take it to go.
The debate continues as more businesses consider or adopt chaperone policies, leaving communities split between protecting customers and punishing well-behaved teens.