Chick-fil-A in Kettering enacts teen chaperone policy

A Chick-fil-A in Kettering, Ohio, has implemented a Teen Chaperone Policy ahead of the new school year, requiring anyone 17 and under to be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or adult chaperone aged 21 or older to dine in. The policy, posted publicly by the restaurant, also notes that unaccompanied minors may be asked to leave. The move, described by the franchise as an effort to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all guests, has drawn a mixed response from the local community as families return to dining out with students back in classrooms.

The policy is presented as location-specific, with the franchise noting that Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated and may reflect the rules of the shopping center where a given location operates. In Kettering, the policy aligns with broader safety and conduct standards already in place at nearby shopping centers, where similar chaperone requirements have been adopted in recent years. The policy announcement itself referenced the start of school as a driver for ensuring a family-friendly setting.

Reaction among residents has been divided. Some critics say the rule punishes well-behaved teens and imposes blanket...