Indonesian McDonald’s Outlets Sanctioned After Runaway Demand For BTS Meals

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian authorities penalized McDonald’s outlets throughout the country for violating Covid-19 health protocols, after they were overwhelmed with online food delivery drivers attempting to meet runaway demand for its promo BTS Meals.

The Jakarta Provincial Administration penalized 32 McDonald’s restaurants in the feeding frenzy for the limited time collaboration between McDonald’s and K-Pop boy band BTS.

“We have ordered 20 of the outlets to close for 24 hours, while the remaining 12 were given written reprimands,” said Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria on Wednesday.

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“The Public Order Agency [Satpol PP] enforced the measure, with the assistance of the military and police as well as the Covid-19 Task Force.”

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police will also summon McDonald’s management over the BTS Meals.

“We will ask McDonald’s to clarify about the BTS Meal Promo and their failure to enforce health protocols in their outlets,” said Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Grand Police Commissioner Yusri Yunus.

Authorities in in other Indonesian cities such as Surabaya, East Java, Denpasar, Bali, Medan, North Sumatra, and Pekanbaru, Riau also closed or cautioned McDonald’s over the meals.

A balancing act

On its part, McDonald’s attempted to balance between the authorities’ concerns and customer demand for the BTS Meals.