Bread Co. introduces new policy restricting minors

Jasper Winterton
Feature Editor

breadco graphic — The Panera located Old Webster at 21 Allen Ave. has initiated a policy that persons under 16 must be accompanied by adults. Photo by Jasper Winterton

“If I was still younger, I probably wouldn’t come back because it’s getting so cold outside. I’ll probably keep going now that I am 18,” Kaitlyn Patten, senior, said. She had previously been forced to sit outside due to Panera’s new policy.

The Panera in Old Webster has enforced a new policy, not allowing minors into the establishment without an adult. A sign on the door said that people 16 and under weren’t allowed inside without an adult, but the company has kicked out students aged 17 or 18 simply for looking young.

“So I was meeting a group of friends- three other people- and two of them were already there, and they were left alone. Then me and my friend showed up and sat down to eat when a worker came over and asked if we were 18, when we said, ‘No,’ they told us we had to leave because we needed someone 18 or older with us,” Patten said. However, while they have created the policy, they only enforce it sometimes, with students younger than 16 occasionally being allowed in.

Poppy Coalier, sophomore, has been to the business multiple times since the policy was introduced and did not have any issues with being served food as a 15 year old.

“I see lots of people under the age of 16 who don’t get kicked out,” Collier said.

According to Collier and Patten, managers don’t only kick out kids causing a disturbance, but when they choose to enforce the rule, they will usually kick out anyone who looks young and anyone with a backpack on.

“I would say it’s pretty unfair, because a lot of people who do bad things don’t get kicked out while kids who are minding their own business do, but I think they have a right to kick out people who are being disrespectful,” Collier said.

Panera’s manager, ____, did not make a comment, but said this was a collaborative effort with the police. Paul Boudreau, Webster Groves Police Department detective, said the department was unaware of the new policy.

“I don’t go there as much as I usually would because I don’t want to get kicked out, but I still do sometimes. The last time I went was this Sunday (Nov 26),” Collier said.