Mall Imposes Weekend Age Limit

In Minnesota, you have to be 21 to drink, 18 to vote - and 16 to shop alone at the Mall of America.

The biggest mall in the United States on Tuesday banned teens under 16 from entering the mall on Friday and Saturday nights without an adult.

The mall said the policy will reduce the potential for “incidents,” and was not prompted by complaints from store owners and customers.

Up to 3,000 teens can be found hanging out weekends at the suburban Minneapolis mall. That will change Sept. 20, when unchaperoned youths must show an ID to get in after 6 p.m.

Some have criticized the move, saying people between the ages of 16 and 18 are just as likely to cause trouble as younger teens.

Tara McGhee, 15, who works at the Starbase Omega arcade, said the policy is unfair.

“It is a good idea for the kids who misbehave, but for those who do behave it’s a slap in the face,” McGhee said.