In the heart of Newcastle's nightlife district, a McDonald's restaurant has become a battleground against anti-social behaviour.

A recent video shared online has exposed the shocking aftermath of a night at the King Street McDonald's, revealing tables and floors littered with rubbish and spilled drinks.

This disturbing scene has sparked a conversation about the challenges faced by hospitality staff working through the night, particularly in venues frequented by late-night revellers.

The King Street McDonald's, a popular pit-stop for club-goers seeking a late-night snack or a place to sober up (or even sleep in!), has been described as 'rough', 'dirty', and 'unsafe' in thousands of Google reviews.

A McDonald’s located on King Street was described as 'unsafe' in thousands of Google reviews. Image source: TikTok.

One customer recounted feeling intimidated by a boisterous crowd of young people, saying, 'My wife and I felt intimidated by a large crowd of young people who were very noisy and hassling staff.'

'There was rubbish on all the tables and floors. No cleaning had been done for a while as staff were too afraid to leave the safety behind the counter.'

In response to the video and the ensuing public outcry, McDonald's Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a safe and clean environment for both its staff and customers.

The company told Yahoo! News Australia that the King Street location has implemented several safety measures, including 24-hour CCTV surveillance, alarm systems, and security guards on duty during the weekend's overnight shifts.

'McDonald’s has a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour and expects our restaurants, people and customers to be treated with respect and decency at all times,' the company stated.

'We are working with the restaurant to ensure we continue to provide a safe and clean restaurant and a great customer experience.'

This isn't the first time the King Street McDonald's has made headlines.

In September, a 23-year-old man who had been attacked and set on fire sought help from the restaurant's staff, further highlighting the challenges faced by employees in such locations.

The more recent video, which has been widely circulated on social media, has drawn widespread condemnation from those appalled by the state of the restaurant.

One viewer expressed their disgust, saying, 'That is disgraceful, I'd love to find where these people work/live and do the same thing at their place.'

Another viewer, who recently returned from living abroad, expressed their shock at the state of the restaurant, saying, 'I just arrived back from living in Mexico for a year…and visiting South Africa, Colombia and more. Never seen a McDonald's like this over there. Wild.'

Locals confirmed that the restaurant's condition is a common sight on weekends, with one saying, 'King Street has always looked like that on the weekend. Everyone coming for a drunk feed when the clubs close.'

In light of the ongoing issues, McDonald's has partnered with the wellbeing platform Sonder to provide support to its employees, many of whom are young people.

Approximately 75 per cent of McDonald's 115,000 Australian employees are secondary school, TAFE, or university students.

Key Takeaways

• A shocking video showed the aftermath of anti-social behaviour at King Street McDonald's in Newcastle, with significant rubbish and mess evident.
• Customers and staff at the venue, often frequented by people leaving nightclubs, experience intimidation and safety concerns.
• McDonald's Australia has a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour and has implemented safety measures, including CCTV, alarm systems, and security guards on weekends.
• Social media users have condemned the behaviour, with some locals confirming that such scenes are common on weekends.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you witnessed similar situations in your local area? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below.

 

[Mrtnst]

Young people are continually told that they live in a country that is fundamentally racist, built through genocide and on stolen land.

Is it any wonder that they have no respect for their elders and other people's property?

If we want to get their behaviour to improve we need to tell them about how much the lives of people in Australia, and the rest of the world, have become since the beliefs and technology of The West were spread around the globe.

Yes, much evil was done and many people suffered.

But also, much good was done and many more people survived and thrived, who would not have if colonisation and industrial revolution didn't happen.

 

[Colette 3799]

Personally I would close the doors late at night and have take away only. It’s disgusting to treat people and property like that. They don’t deserve to be let inside.

 

[MariaG]

I live in Newcastle.
We don't venture out at night into the city, particularly the area where that McDonalds is located.
This is the only Maccas I have ever been to where you need to ask for a key to use the rest room, 24/7.
I can't believe the franchisee thinks it's a good idea to keep the place open late at night.
Also, I would never allow any young person my my family to look for a casual job there. I feel sorry for the kids who are there now. Things have changed. Maccas was a good training ground. Now kids need to go to boot camp before working there.
Terrible state of affairs.

 

[Trudylee]

Maccas used to give Police Members Discount Vouchers ,which made Police visible in Maccas ,sadly the Culture of Booze and Drugs is a problem too