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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
An observational study of consumer use of fast-food restaurant drive-through lanes: implications for menu labelling
Christina A Roberto1, Elena Hoffnagle, Marie A Bragg
1Department of Psychology, The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Yale University, PO Box 208369, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. christina.roberto@yale.edu
Objective:
Some versions of restaurant menu labelling legislation do not require energy information to be posted on menus for drive-through lanes. The present study was designed to quantify the number of customers who purchase fast food through drive-in windows as a means of informing legislative labelling efforts.
Design:
This was an observational study.
Setting:
The study took place at two McDonald's and Burger King restaurants, and single Dairy Queen, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Wendy's restaurants.
Subjects:
The number of customers entering the chain restaurants and purchasing food via the drive-through lane were recorded. A total of 3549 patrons were observed.
Results:
The percentage of customers who made their purchases at drive-throughs was fifty-seven. The overall average (57 %) is likely a conservative estimate because some fast-food restaurants have late-night hours when only the drive-throughs are open.
Conclusions:
Since nearly six in ten customers purchase food via the drive-through lanes, menu labelling legislation should mandate the inclusion of menu labels on drive-through menu boards to maximise the impact of this public health intervention.
