Mum’s anger as McDonald’s stops girl, 11, from claiming free chips from Monopoly game due to her age
Amber Medd's mum, Lyndsey, is now calling on the fast food chain to re-think its Monopoly game
AN 11-year-old girl was left upset after she was banned from claiming her free chips prize at McDonald's - because she's too young.
Amber Medd and her friend had visited the fast-food chain's Willerby, Yorkshire, branch alone and ordered adult meals, which came with peel-back stickers as part of the Monopoly game.
They were delighted to find they had won a free portion of medium fries, but when Amber went up to the counter, she was told she was not old enough to claim it.
Amber's mum, Lynsey Medd, 41, says McDonald's has fallen foul of UK gambling laws and should not sell meals with the stickers on them to under 16s.
She is calling on the restaurant to give unbranded packaging to children who purchase food to avoid disappointment and stop promoting gambling.
McDonald's need to stop this promotion
Lynsey Medd
"At the end of the day, it's a game, but it's encouraging gambling for young children," she told the
"My problem mainly is that you wouldn't sell a child a lottery ticket and then a scratch card, but not be able to scratch it off to claim a fortune.
"If I'd been with her I'm sure it would have been fine. McDonald's need to stop this promotion."
Prizes on the monopoly promotion range from £100,000 as the top prize, along with cars, expensive tech, holidays and free food and meal vouchers.
The mum-of-two also raised concerns about the way the promotion encourages children to pick up bad eating habits.
BAN KIDS FROM GOING INSIDE
She added: "It probably would be better if McDonald's did ban her from going inside, but all the kids love getting their stickers, don't they?
"But on a serious note, I just think this promotion with McDonald's stickers promotes gambling and promotes unhealthy eating.
"The larger meals have more stickers on them - so why wouldn't they want an adult meal, or a larger meal, to get more stickers?"
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McDonald's says the rules of its promotion are clear, and the stickers are not included on Happy Meals, designed for younger children.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's told The Sun said: "In accordance with relevant advertising regulations, our Monopoly promotion is unsuitable for those aged under 16.
"To avoid causing unnecessary disappointment as a result of this age-restriction for the promotion, it is clearly stated on all McDonald’s Monopoly promotional advertising, packaging and on our website."
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