• Navigation icon for News

    News

    • US Food
    • UK Food
    • Drinks
    • Celebrity
    • Restaurants and bars
    • TV and Film
    • Social Media
  • Navigation icon for Cooking

    Cooking

    • Recipes
    • Air fryer
  • Navigation icon for Health

    Health

    • Diet
    • Vegan
  • Navigation icon for Fast Food

    Fast Food

    • McDonalds
    • Starbucks
    • Burger King
    • Subway
    • Dominos
  • Facebook
    Instagram
    YouTube
    TikTok
    X
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
X
Submit Your Content
McDonald's sign sparks debate as fans ask 'What happened to family friendly?'

Home> Fast food> McDonalds

Updated 14:02 2 Jul 2025 GMT+1Published 12:44 2 Jul 2025 GMT+1

McDonald's sign sparks debate as fans ask 'What happened to family friendly?'

It’s one rule for some and another for others.

Rachael Davis

Rachael Davis

The demise of the third place has been discussed at length, with many pining for the days where low-cost or free hangout spots were the norm.

Nowadays, limited seating, store policies and a post-pandemic shift towards more takeaway options have got the bell tolling for what remains of the third places once common to the UK and US.

It seems that McDonald’s, one of the few remaining bastions of places to hang out with your mates when the park is a no-go, is making moves to get bums out of seats a little faster.

McDonald's has seemingly become more takeout-focused post-pandemic (cmspic/Getty Images)
McDonald's has seemingly become more takeout-focused post-pandemic (cmspic/Getty Images)

Posting to Reddit, a user shared an image of a sign put up in their local McDonald’s that reads: “Please - no loitering. Time limit: 30 minutes while consuming food. The manager must enforce this rule. Your cooperation is appreciated.”

Naming the thread ‘What happened to family friendly?’, the Redditor captioned the image: “2nd McDonald's I've been to like this in less than a week... Only 5 tables in the restaurant, no self serve drink machine, no condiments out, not even napkin dispenser... What happened to McDonald's being a family friendly restaurant for kids to play at like in the 90s?”

Half an hour isn’t necessarily the stingiest time slot, but it’s nevertheless disappointing for those who see McDonald’s as a place to catch up with their pals over a burger when the weather isn’t great.

The thread drew tonnes of responses theorising on why McDonald’s is making this move, with many believing it’s a reaction to homeless or drug-addled visitors spoiling the ambience.

“That no loitering sign is probably just posted to allow staff to kick out homeless people who stay there all day or something,” suggested one comment. “I've loitered for 2 hours in a McDonald’s that has that sign working on my laptop while sipping coffee and they didn't care.”

“It's for unruly guests and the homeless. I've never seen it enforced on someone that's just chilling,” said another. The homeless really can’t catch a break, it seems.

The sign was spotted by a Redditor at their local McDonald's (tgyo90/Reddit)
The sign was spotted by a Redditor at their local McDonald's (tgyo90/Reddit)

Others have suggested it’s in response to reported issues with teenagers. One McDonald’s in the US recently imposed a ban on unaccompanied customers under 21 after a brawl broke about at the site between local high-schoolers.

“Probably also a way to kick out teenagers who come in and buy 1 cheeseburger between 10 of them and then torment the workers,” said another. “It was a huge issue back when I worked there.”

The sentiment that non-problematic visitors likely being excused from this rule was common in the thread, too.

“Here is the answer. Just don’t be a problem and just use the dining room to eat, one comment suggested. “There are probably groups of teenage kids who cause issues and are there for too long. They want the dining room to be … family friendly. So they get rid of the issues.”

For others, it’s simply a sign of the times and a shift back to a strategy of yesteryear.

“Back in the day, McDonald’s did research on how hard their chairs had to be to get the average person to sit comfortably during a meal, but get right up afterwards,” claimed another comment. “So this trends.”

Featured Image Credit: Anna Barclay / Contributor/Getty Images

Topics: McDonalds , Fast Food, Social Media

Rachael Davis
Rachael Davis

Choose your content:

21 hours ago
22 hours ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
  • 21 hours ago

    McDonald's fans 'over the moon' after chain launches new double version of 'underdog' burger

    What she order?

    Fast food
  • 22 hours ago

    McDonald's US overhauls breakfast menu with new line of McMuffins

    What a way to start the day.

    Fast food
  • 2 days ago

    Former McDonald's chef reveals healthiest item on the menu

    Of course, the healthiest option is to cook something at home.

    Fast food
  • 3 days ago

    McDonald's customer gets very unexpected surprise after ordering ice cream cone

    It’s brought back some special memories for former McDonald’s workers.

    Fast food
  • McDonald's fans think they've found 'most underrated menu item' despite 'nuts' price tag
  • McDonald's fans fuming as popular item quietly axed from menu
  • McDonald's customer gets very unexpected surprise after ordering ice cream cone
  • Reason why McDonald's ice cream machines always seem to be broken as Mexico offers up incredible solution