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Melbourne: An Australian fast food restaurant has come up with a novel idea to ward off loitering teenagers -- belting out classical and opera music.
The management of the McDonald's outlet located at the Mt Annan on the outskirts of Sydney, fed up with the nocturnal transformation of the joint into an unofficial youth club, adopted the tactic a few weeks ago.
It says it has significantly reduced the number of loiterers, particularly around the car park, the Macarthur Chronicle reported.
McDonald's Macarthur operations manager Matthew Watson said this was the first time the store had trialled classical music as a deterrent.
"We've noticed a reduction in the number of young people hanging around, but we'll have to reassess it properly in a couple of weeks," he was quoted as saying by the daily.
"We play a range of classical and opera music and so far it seems to be working," Watson said.
Using classical or easy listening music as a deterrent has worked wonders in the past, with Macarthur Square, a shopping centre, employing the tactic in March 2009 to keep unruly teenagers away.
The centre blasted Barry Manilow during late night shopping on Thursdays to great effect.
Local residents have approved of the tactic.
"I work nights nearby and it has made a massive difference already to the lingering and loitering in the carpark," Sara Carrick, was quoted as saying by the paper.
