London -
McDonald’s is using classical music to combat anti-social behaviour in its restaurants.
The fast food giant says compositions by Strauss, Mozart and Bach help to calm rowdy youths who gather there in the evening.
One branch in Stockport had suffered a significant anti-social behaviour problem and had to involve the police.
Officers sent letters to the parents of youngsters who were persistently caught misbehaving at the burger chain.
But the restaurant hopes the musical approach will have more of an impact. Although it plays pop music during the day, it switches to a wide range of classical pieces, from full orchestra to solo piano, after 8pm.
A McDonald’s spokesman said the move was not a company policy but claimed it had helped enormously in restaurants which had previously seen a spate of nuisance behaviour.
Michael Dwyer, 42, a customer in Stockport, said on Wednesday: “It’s full of families now, but if gangs of teenagers hang around later then I can see that being a pain. If the classical music calms them down or persuades them to go somewhere else then I guess that’s a good thing.”
But Zac, 19, said: “They started playing old music and opera and stuff at night so we go to KFC. It won’t last long. They always want your cash.” - Daily Mail