A Chick-fil-A in Ohio has set off a storm of debate after rolling out a controversial new rule aimed at teenage customers just as the school year begins.
The restaurant, located in Kettering, announced what it calls a “Teen Chaperone Policy” on Facebook last week. According to the post, anyone 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 if they want to dine inside. “Unaccompanied minors may be asked to leave,” the statement read.
Local Ohio Chick-fil-A to require chaperones for teenage customers — causing community uproar https://t.co/X4G8h33VEX pic.twitter.com/jsdWmbqheU
— New York Post (@nypost) August 18, 2025
The decision immediately set off a flood of reactions online. Some parents and students called the policy unfair, accusing the restaurant of punishing responsible teenagers along with the few who cause trouble. One commenter wrote, “Pretty sad that the good kids are getting punished,” while another said, “Instead of banning kids, why not just remove the ones who are disruptive?”
Parents also expressed frustration that the rule may ruin simple traditions like stopping for food after school or grabbing dinner after Friday night football games. “My son and his friends were looking forward to eating there after school,” one mother said. Another added, “They’re going to miss out on a lot of money before and after games. Big mistake.”
But others rushed to defend the policy. Several commenters said unruly teenagers have become a problem in many public places, from libraries to shopping centers, and that stricter rules are the only way to handle it. One woman put it bluntly: “A lot of places are moving in this direction because your kids are unruly and disrespectful. The teachers keep telling you. The coaches keep telling you. Law enforcement keeps telling you.”
Others shared stories of their own frustrations with large groups of unsupervised teens. A former restaurant worker from nearby Centerville said, “Teens would come in every Friday and DESTROY our business by the hundreds. Some of the kids were fine, but the bunch that were out of line were wild and ruined it for everyone.”
The Kettering Chick-fil-A later clarified that the policy was tied to its location. A spokesperson told Fox Business, “Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated. This restaurant has set a policy specific to its location, which mirrors that of the shopping center the restaurant is located in.”
The Kettering restaurant sits in front of the Town and Country Shopping Center, which put its own teen chaperone policy in place back in January 2022. That rule requires anyone under 18 visiting the shopping center to be accompanied by an adult.
This is not the first Chick-fil-A to roll out such a restriction. In Royersford, Pennsylvania, another location announced a similar policy in February 2023. That restaurant explained its reasoning in detail, citing problems with kids being too loud, leaving trash behind, disrespecting employees, and even walking through drive-thru lanes. “We want to provide a comfortable and safe environment for our guests and our staff,” the Royersford team wrote.
CHICK CHAT: An Ohio Chick-fil-A is banning teens under 17 from dining in without an adult chaperone.
What do you think about the new policy? Email us at [email protected]! pic.twitter.com/GzH2ZgtHbG
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The Kettering decision may now serve as a test case for how far other restaurants are willing to go when it comes to limiting teenage customers.
