McDonald’s to play Beethoven music to tackle anti-social behaviour amongst youths

A McDonald’s branch is so sick of anti-social behaviour, it's implementing a rather novel idea: Beethoven.

You see, besides its budget burgers, many British Maccies are famous for being the hotspots of loitering youths who use their local as a place to hang out and cause chaos.

All kinds of methods have been introduced over the years to try and curb the issue, including switching the in-store music from pop to classical.

It's surprisingly effective, as demonstrated by a McDonald's in Shepherd's Bush.

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The London branch introduced the measure while also cutting the free WiFi in 2018 after it suffered 71 instances of crime the year prior.

Atul Pathak, whose company owns the Uxbridge Road restaurant, said at the time: "Working together with the police and the local council in Shepherd’s Bush to help them with combating persistent anti-social behaviour, we thought that playing classical music at certain times of the day would help to set a different and calmer tone.

"It is working really well and has been positively received by many customers, so much so that we are giving real consideration as to where else we might introduce it."

A number of other owners across the UK have considered adopting the unusual strategy over the years, and it looks like a McDonald's in Wrexham, Wales, is now doing the same.

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Speaking to The Sun, local police said staff at the branch were recently pelted with coins in a clash involving more than 20 troublemakers.

As such, the 24-hour Wrexham Maccies is set to start pumping the sweet symphonies of Beethoven and other classical hits from 5pm, while also turning WiFi off in the evening.

Police Inspector Luke Hughes told the outlet: "Unless we have some local and unruly Beethoven enthusiasts, it should discourage some issues."

McDonald's previously spoke about the success of the unique technique, stating: "We have tested the effects of classical music in the past and played it in some of our restaurants as it encourages more acceptable behaviour.

"Typically, classical music would be played from early evening onwards and, in some cases, on certain nights in a small number of restaurants."

Weirdly, it's not the first time classical music has been used to tackle crime.

Anyone who's been to London has probably heard it being played in stations on the underground and, turns out, it's for the exact same reason.

Initially set up in 2007, the initiative proved successful - within 18 months, robberies dropped by 33 percent, assaults on staff were down 25 percent and vandalism by 37 percent.

Since then, the underground has introduced the music in 65 of its 270 stations, Classic FM reports, and offers a 40-hour playlist.

Clearly these people have never seen A Clockwork Orange.

Topics: McDonalds, Crime, UK News, Food And Drink

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

@DaisyWebb77