McDonald's restaurant turns to opera to drive out loitering teenagers

The Telegraph ^ | 11/21/2013 | Jonathan Pearlman

[markomalley]

A McDonald's outlet in Australia has begun playing classical musical and opera late at night to deter young people from loitering around the restaurant.

Fed up with their outlet's nocturnal transformation into an unofficial youth club, the store adopted the tactic a few weeks ago and says it has significantly reduced the number of loiterers, particularly around the car park.

The strategy has reportedly been tried before by a local council at a car park in Australia, though previous efforts involved blaring songs by Barry Manilow.

Matthew Watson, the operations manager at the Mt Annan McDonald's on the outskirts of Sydney, said the music had been a successful deterrent.

"We've noticed a reduction in the number of young people hanging around, but we'll have to reassess it properly in a couple of weeks," the store's operations manager,

Matthew Watson, told the Macarthur Chronicle newspaper. "We play a range of classical and opera music and so far it seems to be working."

[central_va]

Play the Disney “It’s a Small World After All” over and over.

[fungoking]

If that doesn`t work, try the greatest hits of Cher.

Cher's greatest hits = silence.

[andy58-in-nh]

In Washington D.C. they could play Bluegrass and get rid of loiterers.

Intersperse that with the sound of a racking shotgun and an occasional "yeee-hawwww!", and I think it would work.

[andy58-in-nh]

Play the Disney “It’s a Small World After All” over and over.

Torture was long ago outlawed by the Geneva Convention.

[fungoking]

Could install the Mosquito, kids can hear it but older folks can't. I play it really loud in my Psych class when we cover sensation, students cringe and cover their ears but I can't hear it. “Are you sure you heard that because I didn't...let me play that again.”

http://www.movingsoundtech.com/

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Get a copy of the speeches BO gave the Queen of England on an ipod.

That would do it for me everytime.

[IYAS9YAS]

Play the Disney “It’s a Small World After All” over and over.

The nuclear option. Not a viable alternative, as they wish to keep some customers.

[popdonnelly]

Why not just throw them out? It’s private property.

[randita]

*Classical music ping*

[sitetest]

Dear randita,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping! If you’d like on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks,

sitetest

[Buckeye McFrog]

I know one that pipes in Adult Standards of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Likely for the same reasons.

[faucetman]

This works, I have been permanently driven out of Olive Garden with their Frank Sinatra music.

[OldPossum]

Hmmm, strange that the food isn't enough to drive them off...

Yes, there is the mystery.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Years ago a store owner started piping in Mozart for the same purpose.

My thoughts? Pipe in some Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. ;-D

[Georgia Girl 2]

Love it! Crank up the Puccini.

[Borges]

Opera IS Classical music.