Legal question (McDonald's)

So here in Canada, (not sure about the U.S) there is a promotion going on for the next week or so where you can get a free small coffee whenever you go to a McDonald's, you don't even have to buy anything. I'm a high school student, and I went and got one a couple of days ago with some friends and it wasn't too bad and everything was normal. But today, me and some friends went back there to eat and to get another free coffee. However, now they were saying that they would not serve any high school students and they were even asking for some people to show ID. FOR FUCKING COFFEE!  
 I think that the reason they were doing it is because there are two high schools that are fairly close by, and it would cause them to have to make a lot more coffee and do a lot more work. There were big lines today (mostly made up of students) and there were a lot more people there then were when I successfully went last time.  Even though this may be daunting, they should still have to serve everyone equally without ageism. 

Now I was just wondering if any of you guys know if this is illegal, because I am 99% certain that it is. 

I'm pretty pissed off about this, because the kids from the schools that they are now alienating, are in fact the people who are normally giving them the most profit.  
 
So what are your guys' thoughts on this? 

I wouldn't know if it's legal or not without looking through the fine print for that specific deal (whenever I see something that says free an asterisk usually follows). They might have something in there saying (must be 18 years or older) and didn't bother following that until more people under 18 took advantage of the deal. Just my thoughts.

Well isnt it more of cultural thing , minors not  having coffee? IDK.... all I do know is that I dont drink it

i'm a high school student in Canada, and so far haven't had any problems. also any size is free...

They have the right to deny sale to any person they want. Even though there's no money involved it's still considered a sale.

Big lines might be the reason. Sure, the corporate people love big lines, but maybe the staff themselves have a problem with a huge line of high schoolers coming in. Maybe they also suspect some of them are stealing. I remember some stores near schools having "2 pupils max" on them and such, without any mention of legality.

I'd go for the coffee and nothing else, exactly why they're acting like this I suspect tho.
 
No worries, I got free coffee at work anyway!

High amounts of caffeine can be dangerous, especially to children, so many shops are diligent and restrict the sale of caffeinated drinks to under 18's. It's probably not law to only sell it to over 18's, but I'm sure it's not illegal for them to do that.

Sounds like discrimination to me. Why don't they just require some type of purchase?

Also, it's not about the fact that it's coffee, as they were only not allowing high schoolers to get the small coffee. Any other size is okay.

I, Personally, would take them to court to get my 1 free shitty cup of coffee.
 
More to the point, no, they probably can't age discriminate legally, but your damages amount to maybe 14 dollars over the course of a couple weeks.  The store owner probably saw all of several hundred HS kids getting free coffee and not buying anything else, making longer lines and having more complaining actual paying customers.  Mind you the cups cost more than the coffee, but lost productivity making coffee for several hundred students could be significant.  You could argue the point and ruin it for everyone I suppose, afterall, they could just as easily become a non-participating location.  If you think your (collectively the 2 highschools) students are their source for their profits, then start a small boycott because of the age discrimination.  Again if I were the franchise owner I'd just end the deal and stop being a participating location for giving handouts.
 
@Video_Game_King:
The individual franchises usually don't set the rules, those are handed down by corporate.  They can choose if they want to participate though. 

I'm no laywer, so

I would give a call to McDonalds HQ and file a complaint against the store.  Let them know whats going on and then they'll usually send you some free stuff for your troubles.

" I would give a call to McDonalds HQ and file a complaint against the store.  Let them know whats going on and then they'll usually send you some free stuff for your troubles. "

I would imagine that loads of kids have been going in and being ridiculous and ordering coffee after coffee and just ruining it for everyone else.  Normally what happens when deals like that arise.  Just go somewhere else and get coffee, no great loss. 

Nope. For something to be illegal, a law or right has to be violated. 
There is no law providing you with access to coffee, and you have no right to free coffee.

Chances are the manager did this. 
 
Just call the district manager. 

" They have the right to deny sale to any person they want. Even though there's no money involved it's still considered a sale. "

That's not actually true, at least in the United States.  That's the reason that businesses can't be segregated or "White Only".  It had something to do with interstate commerce and laws governing that.

As for your situation, I think that the business is guilty of age discrimination, but I'm not familiar with Canadian law.

What I can say is that you shouldn't do anything illegal to the business or its employees in relation for the unfair treatment that you're being given.  Maybe you can file a complaint with the regional manager, and tell him your situation?

" @DragonBloodthirsty: Businesses can't be segregated in the United States because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was challenged as being outside the bounds of the Federal Government's power.  Supporters defended it based on the interstate commerce clause of the US Constitution (which basically gives the Federal Government the right to regulate commerce between the states, but not when it occurs entirely within the state), and we all know who won that argument.  So your reference to interstate commerce is accurate but I just wanted to flesh it out a bit.  The thing about age discrimination is that it is based on statute, and because I have very little knowledge of Canadian laws, I have no idea if they have antidiscrimination laws of this type.  But I should note that age discrimination laws don't always protect against ANY discrimination based on age.  I think it's very possible that a Canadian age discrimination law may only protect older individuals from discrimination.  Many societies don't grant minors full societal benefits (for instance, we restrict their ability to drive, vote and drink).  So I guess what I'm trying to say is, this may feel like an injustice, but that doesn't mean it violates the law. "

Thanks;  that sounds like exactly what I was thinking about.

I do recall that Poke'mon tournaments used to be open only to people under a particular age (I recall it was either 14 or 18), but in court that practice was ruled age discrimination and the tournaments were required to open up to people of all ages.  Of course, since the people being offended were both older, knew their rights, and had the money and power to back it up, they won.

It would make more sense if they required a purchase with it.

" They have the right to deny sale to any person they want. Even though there's no money involved it's still considered a sale. "

Call all of your local media outlets (TV, radio, newspapers, local bloggers, etc) then stage a sit-in at the McD's in question. Get as many people with you as possible. Be aware that if the manager is a real hard-ass he/she may try to have you arrested (and will certainly threaten it) but if you're all underage it may not happen because of the very damaging publicity, especially if TV cameras are rolling at the time. If you actually do get arrested, don't resist but don't help either; force them to carry you out. Bring your own cameras and upload the videos to YouTube in real time, if you can. Before you start your protest, create a succinct list of demands and a description of the problem and designate someone as your spokesperson who can articulate those issues calmly and clearly to the manager, the police, and the press. Be prepared to be there for awhile. Yes, I'm serious. Legal action is all well and good and may work eventually but few things bring the quick results that civil disobedience does.

It's a fucking cup of coffee.

" @Suicidal_SNiper said:

" They have the right to deny sale to any person they want. Even though there's no money involved it's still considered a sale. "

Depending on the reason. Example, you can't refuse sales to someone because they are black, female, gay, etc. I have no idea if age is one of those things that is considered to be discriminatory.    I guarantee that this was a manager at that location's decision though. Find out what the regional manager's number is and call to make a complaint if you feel like doing so, since I bet that, legal or illegal, it's not a decision the manager can make. "

" It's a fucking cup of coffee. "

" Nope. For something to be illegal, a law or right has to be violated.  There is no law providing you with access to coffee, and you have no right to free coffee. "

A business reserves the right to refuse anyone service. No law has been violated by refusing you coffee.

" @Walker_after_dark: That's a nice plan if you're protesting, say, segregated lunch counters.  If you're protesting that you don't get a free cup of coffee because you're a teenager, the publicity you get probably would be more negative than positive.  As @RecSpec said:

" It's a fucking cup of coffee. "

"

When I was in High School last year, I went to the close-by McDonald's and got free coffee there everyday during the promotion. Still, I don't think it's illegal, it's their product they're giving away. If you're really upset, write to the company and you could be compensated. 

DId you offer to pay for it??
 
And they can do what they want as a private business, if you were dieing of thirst, all they had was coffee and  they didn't give you any because your too young, then they would be breaking a law, but thats about the only way they could get in trouble for that.

They aren't discriminating against you because of your age, its because your a high school student which is perfectly legal.

" A business reserves the right to refuse anyone service. No law has been violated by refusing you coffee. "

" @Bennyishere:  Apart from straws I don't really know what you could steal from a Mcdonalds. And saying that the straws are free anyway.  I think it's BS they are turning you away. But like has been said they can unfortunately refuse anyone they want. =[ "

" So here in Canada, (not sure about the U.S) there is a promotion going on for the next week or so where you can get a free small coffee whenever you go to a McDonald's, you don't even have to buy anything. I'm a high school student, and I went and got one a couple of days ago with some friends and it wasn't too bad and everything was normal. But today, me and some friends went back there to eat and to get another free coffee. However, now they were saying that they would not serve any high school students and they were even asking for some people to show ID. FOR FUCKING COFFEE!   I think that the reason they were doing it is because there are two high schools that are fairly close by, and it would cause them to have to make a lot more coffee and do a lot more work. There were big lines today (mostly made up of students) and there were a lot more people there then were when I successfully went last time.  Even though this may be daunting, they should still have to serve everyone equally without ageism. Now I was just wondering if any of you guys know if this is illegal, because I am 99% certain that it is. I'm pretty pissed off about this, because the kids from the schools that they are now alienating, are in fact the people who are normally giving them the most profit.   So what are your guys' thoughts on this?   (EDIT* Mods can move to off-topic. Accidentally posted here.) "

Look at the fineprint but usually they have to serve you. Even for happy meals they have to give it to you eventhough youre not 8. So yeah you should just read them the fine print and you should have your slightly mideocre mcdonalds cofee :p

" Napkins and ketchup too. "

I got asked for ID when buying Red Bull once, just tell them to shove it up their arse, make a scene. That worked for me