The LCBO has scrapped its anti-theft test program a day after it was announced over serious data privacy concerns.
Ontario’s Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy directed the LCBO to cancel the pilot “immediately” on Wednesday.
“Over the past 24 hours, I have heard serious concerns about the LCBO’s newly announced pilot program. I’ve directed the LCBO to cancel it immediately,” Bethlenfalvy wrote in a post on X.
The LCBO has since released a statement complying with the directive.
“Following direction from the Ontario Government, LCBO will not be moving forward with our controlled entrances pilot. We remain committed to working collaboratively on additional measures to reduce shop theft and violent incidents in our stores and to ensuring safe experiences for our customers and employees,” LCBO said in a press release.
Before its termination, Ontarians were reacting to the pilot that was set to check the IDs of customers who appear 17 years of age or older through controlled store entrances.
The program was supposed to roll out in the spring and continue for 12 months at six LCBO stores located in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout and Kenora, the LCBO said in a press release on Tuesday.
“These stores were chosen because their contained geography from other LCBO stores allows us to measure the effectiveness of controlled entrances on theft,” the company said.
Before being welcomed into the store, customers would have been instructed to present their IDs to security staff to scan the ID for validation to ensure the person has not been involved in any prior incidents at an LCBO location.
Residents across the province and beyond responded to the announcement online.
Some expressed skepticism over how effective it would be given that alcohol will be available to purchase outside of liquor stores imminently, while others came out in support of the move.
“I live in Thunder Bay where 4 stores are doing this. Theft is a huge problem here, this is their way to curb it,” one X user wrote.
“I guess I’ll be getting my booze at grocery stores now,” another person said.
Beer, wine, cider, coolers, seltzers, and other low-alcohol ready-to-drink beverages will be available at all participating convenience, grocery and big box stores by January 2026, the Ford government announced last December..
The controlled entrance rule already applies in Manitoba and some X users were quick to applaud its efficacy.
“It works well in Manitoba we don’t even notice it anymore, just the norm. You feel safe in the store and know the staff will be safe as well, it took a worker getting very injured to have this implemented,” one X user said.
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) implemented its anti-theft strategy in 2020.
MBLL President Peter Hak said that following the rollout of the program the MBLL saw a 23 per cent reduction in theft and robbery incidents.
Despite early signs of success in neighbouring provinces, some voiced doubt online, saying the policy would open doors to racial profiling.
“Seems a bit profile-y, it’s not as though they’re checking ID at Manulife Centre. Very modern version of the old LCBO Indian List. Instead of investing in healthcare to deal with alcohol misuse, the Ford Government is building booze fortresses,” another X user wrote.
“I’m seeing this as highly racist as the six stores are in cities/towns that have high Indigenous populations. It should be all stores or none. Gawd knows, that the LCBO makes billions in profits,” another person said.
Others raised concerns over privacy and the risk of illegal data collection from scanning IDs.
“The LCBO says the photo ID will be scanned to ensure it is legitimate and valid”? It’s one thing to show your ID to prove your age, but scanning it to check legitimacy? What is it being referenced to, and how does LCBO have access to that information?” one person said.
But John Summers, chief retail officer at LCBO, reiterated that the policy was being piloted in the interests of providing “exceptional customer and employee experiences…our goal is to make this new process quick and easy.”
“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,” Summers concluded.
