File Photo (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
Controlled entrances are coming to six LCBOs in Northwestern Ontario this spring.
To help combat theft, the LCBO is launching a controlled entrance pilot at stores located in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, and Kenora:
- 546 Park Street, Kenora Shoppers Mall, Kenora
- 44 Front Street, Sioux Lookout
- 100 North Cumberland Street, Thunder Bay
- 1010 Dawson Road, The Landmark Inn, Thunder Bay
- 1095 Arthur Street West, Thunder
- 969 Fort Williams Road, Thunder Bay
These stores were chosen because their contained geography from other stores allows the LCBO to measure the effectiveness of controlled entrances on theft.
The success of the pilot will be monitored for a year following its launch, and it is currently unclear when the changes will officially go into effect.
“Providing an exceptional customer and employee experiences is a top priority, so our goal is to make this new process quick and easy,” said LCBO Chief Retail Officer, John Summers. “While it may add a few extra minutes to our customers’ visit, we trust that this is a small inconvenience for a safer and more enjoyable shopping experience.”
LCBO Controlled Entrance – Supplied Photo LCBO
Controlled entrances require customers who appear to be 17 years or older to present photo identification to security personnel at the store entrance before being welcomed into the store.
Photo IDs will be scanned to ensure that it is legitimate/valid, and to confirm that the customer is of legal drinking age and has not been involved in any prior in-store incidents. If a customer does not meet these requirements, they will be unable to enter the store.
The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) implemented controlled entrances in 2020, and on their website, they reference plummeting theft and positive feedback from customers and employees.
