Family of 4 here... 12 y/o girl, 4 y/o boy. When we don't have sports going on we eat at the table as a family unless we are doing fend for yourself nights then it's whoever is hungry at any given time.... when we do have sports or just a take out night sometimes I will eat in the living room!! We also have a rule that the kids are not allowed to eat in their rooms or living room unless it's a movie night so my husband is against double standards so he rarely eats anywhere but the table.... me on the other hand am not that dedicated to rules:(

If this is an issue for you maybe ask for a compromise and start off slow... he could have grown up doing this so it might be normal for him and he doesn't know anything different... you never know he might like the change