In-N-Out refusing to check vaccination status at some CA locations

Yahoo Finance’s Dani Romero breaks down In-N-Out Burgers’ fight over Covid-19 vaccination mandates.

Video transcript

KARINA MITCHELL: Welcome back. It is a battle yet again over vaccine mandates. In-N-Out in San Francisco is doubling down on its refusal to check proof of vaccination, even after one of its restaurants was forced to close because of it. Yahoo Finance's Dani Romero joins us with more on this. And could In-N-Out be going to war with cities and counties across the state over this?

DANI ROMERO: Well, that In-N-Out location at the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco did reopen today, but just for takeout, so no dine-in service. That restaurant did shut down because the company is fighting against this vaccine mandate in San Francisco. The city requires restaurants to check customers' proof of vaccination if they want to eat inside, and that is something In-N-Out says they will not do.

And so health inspectors in the Bay Area did fine a second In-N-Out location in the Pleasant Hill area. They warned that restaurant two weeks ago, and they still refused to enforce that rule, which led to a $250 fine over the weekend and then a $500 fine just yesterday.

And so, in a statement, In-N-Out says we refuse to become the vaccination police for any government. We fiercely disagree with any government dictate that enforces a private company to discriminate against their customers. Now, it's still unclear how long that restaurant at the Fisherman's Wharf will still operate for takeout only.

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: So, Dani, I'm curious if other restaurants are going to join the battle here. Any word on other establishments saying, we're not going to impose this vaccine mandate?

DANI ROMERO: Yeah, and I think that's a really good question. You know, in the next two weeks, LA will have similar mandates as San Francisco. And so, the company, it's still unclear if In-N-Out, how they're going to enforce that here in Los Angeles. But I will say this. The executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association says that in response to In-N-Out's vaccine you know, refusal, she says that this is more of a political statement than anything.

But I will say also she said that 78% of restaurant owners say-- that they have surveyed in the Bay Area say that they have very few issues with asking customers about proof of vaccination. However, I will say those same respondents did say that their business did increase as this vaccine mandate was rolled out, which was two months ago in San Francisco.

KARINA MITCHELL: All right, Dani Romero, thank you so much for that report.