McDonald’s fans are shocked to discover that some international locations are offering an item not available in the US: beer.
Social media users on X and TikTok have pointed out that beer is on the menu at the fast food chain in several countries in Europe and Asia.
“I had no idea that some countries in Europe have McDonald’s that serve beer,” one X user wrote.
Others urged the US to follow suit.
“In Germany you can get a beer at McDonald’s, and honestly I think the US should adopt that,” says an X user wrote.
Another social media user who was able to order a beer at a McDonald’s location in Barcelona, Spain, described it as a “culture shock.”
The surprised X users discovered the limited menu item in restaurants in Britain, Spain and Japan.
‘I wish America could do this too. I mean other countries have alcohol in fast food restaurants,” one TikToker wrote.
Beer is on the menu at fast food chains in several countries in Europe and Asia
‘The first time I saw alcohol on the menu at McDonald’s was when I was in France. I did a double take in case I was hallucinating,” another TikToker wrote.
‘I wish America could do this too. I mean other countries have alcohol in fast food restaurants,” another TikToker wrote.
‘Europe McDonald’s are fire… In Portugal you sell beer with your meal and then espresso for after your meal lol’, another traveler wrote.
Other X users said they bought a McDonald’s beer in Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, among others.
Some social media users also discovered the existence of McDonald’s beer by watching videos on YouTube and other social media platforms.
“I was recently watching this YouTube food tour video about McDonald’s in Japan. They actually have a self-serve beer station. I was in shock,” said one X user wrote.
Multiple X users claimed they discovered the menu item while in Europe or by watching videos on social media
Some of the countries in which social media users claimed to have purchased a McDonald’s beer include Spain, Italy and Portugal
More than one social media user urged McDonald’s to offer beer in its North American restaurants
Social media users already assumed that McDonald’s locations in Europe and Asia had beer as a menu item
McDonald’s began serving beer in some of its European restaurants in the 1970s.
One McDonald’s restaurant in Germany has been offering beer to its customers since 1971 Chow dog.
The fast food empire’s beer offering made headlines in 2016 after the company announced it would start serving the alcoholic drink in South Korea.
The restaurant near Seoul, South Korea, served draft beer with the location’s “premium” burgers.
The South Korean McDonald’s location was the first restaurant in Asia to offer beer since a location in Hong Kong, China, closed in 2004, according to NBC News.
Some countries that offer beer at McDonald’s offer locally made or country-specific brands.
A few beer brands available at McDonald’s are Mekkes in Germany, Makgeolli in South Korea and Pripps Bl Lattol in Sweden.
McDonald’s has suffered sales declines more than once this year, including due to an E.coli outbreak
Earlier this year, McDonald’s faced a decline in sales in several countries, including the US.
The fast food empire confirmed in July that sales fell for the first time in years during the April to June quarter.
It was the first drop in sales since 2020, when profits fell by 12 percent.
The restaurant chain’s shares plunged again after an E.coli outbreak linked to its burgers left one dead and dozens sick.
“These public health fears are the last thing McDonald’s needs as it is already struggling to drive growth,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.
The company confirmed in its Q3 2024 results that while US sales rose 0.3 percent, global comparable sales fell 1.5 percent.