Over the past two years, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, like other Winnipeg retailers, has seen a dramatic increase in brazen thefts and robberies in our Winnipeg Liquor Marts.
In response to this situation, Liquor & Lotteries is in the process of installing controlled entrances at all Winnipeg Liquor Marts.
As retailer that prides itself on customer service and offering a modern, shopping experience, we know these measures are inconvenient, however, providing a safe environment for our employees and customers comes first. We look forward to welcoming you at your local Liquor Mart where, once inside, you can expect the same great customer service you have always known.
• Remember that your safety is more important than anything you’re carrying.
• Park and walk in well-lit, busy areas.
• Stay off your phone while walking. Keep your attention on your surroundings.
• If you get approached outside or see someone suspicious, go to the nearest open business.
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Please be aware that as of Thursday, September 10, anyone entering a Liquor Mart is required to wear a face mask. When you enter the store, you will be asked to briefly remove your face mask so we can make sure you match your photo ID, and that you are over the age of 18. Hand sanitizer is available in the vestibule for you to use before and after you remove your mask.
Asking customers to identify themselves as they enter our stores has proven to be an effective deterrent to the thefts and robberies we've experienced over the last two years. Over the past several months, we have gone from more than 400 thefts and robberies weekly down to fewer than a dozen. We have also had a positive response from both employees and customers who have indicated they feel safe working and shopping in a Liquor Mart again. Learn more about the anti-theft measures at Liquor Marts.
As a courtesy to our customers, and for a limited time, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries will provide a disposable mask to you, free of charge, when you enter a Liquor Mart without a mask.
At stores with controlled entrances, the security guard will sanitize both sides of the pass-through tray and then pass you a face mask. At stores without a controlled entrance, employees will be stationed just inside the entrance to provide you with a mask if needed. There is sanitizer available for you to use just inside of the store entrances. Please note these disposable masks are only available while supplies last.
We strongly encourage you to bring your own mask on your next visit.
Effective Thursday, September 10, masks are mandatory for anyone entering a Liquor Mart. Unfortunately, disposable masks are only available for a limited time and while supplies last. If you do not have a face mask with you, you will not be permitted to enter and shop in our stores. We strongly encourage you to bring your own mask on your next visit.
We understand that some customers are unwilling to wear face masks for a variety of reasons. For the health and safety of our employees and customers, everyone entering a Liquor Mart is required to wear a face mask. If you aren’t wearing an effective face covering, you will be denied entry.
From beer vendors to specialty wine stores, Manitoba has a number of public and private liquor retailing options. If you are in Winnipeg or Brandon, you may want to consider trying our home delivery service. Alternatively, consider enlisting a friend or family member to pick up your order for you.
We recognize and respect that some people are unable to wear a face mask for medical reasons. Instead, you are welcome to wear a face shield as an alternative to a face mask. A proper face shield should be made of plastic, fit over your face above the nose and below the chin, and be held in place by head straps, ear loops, or a cap.
If you are unable to wear a face mask OR a face shield then, unfortunately, we will be unable to serve you in-store. For the safety and health of staff and customers, you must wear a face covering to enter and shop in our stores. If you are unable wear a face mask or shield, you may want to ask a family member or friend to shop for you, or try our home delivery service. You may also want to consider visiting some of Manitoba's other private liquor retailing options.
Thank you for your understanding. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
As per public health guidelines, you will be asked to briefly remove or lower your mask so that we can confirm your identification and that you are over 18 years old. If you refuse to remove or lower your mask, you will not be allowed to enter the Liquor Mart.
Hand sanitizer is available in the Liquor Mart vestibule for you to use before and after you touch your mask. You can adjust, lower or remove your mask without compromising its integrity by using the ear loops or ties. Try to avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth when removing or lowering your face mask.
If you are asked to remove your mask at the point of sale for age verification, ask the Liquor Mart representative for some hand sanitizer before and after you touch your mask. If you decline to remove your mask, service will be refused.
This Liquor Mart policy of not covering your face while in our stores has been in place for many years. It has always applied to anything covering your face like Halloween masks, balaclavas, large scarves, hoods, motorcycle helmets, and religious face coverings, and now it also applies to personal protective equipment like face masks.
By briefly lowering or removing your mask, you help us make sure the person trying to enter our store matches the identification they have presented, reducing the risk that a thief could use stolen identification to enter a Liquor Mart to commit a crime.
Liquor Marts are not alone in asking for face coverings to be briefly lowered or removed for the purpose of identification. Retail operations, such as cannabis stores, as well as the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (pre-boarding), also require the brief removal of masks for this same reason.
Manitoba Public Health has indicated that people can temporarily remove their mask while in an indoor public place to establish their identity.
For the safety and health of all customers and staff, you must wear a proper face mask while shopping at your local Liquor Mart. Non-medical disposable face masks are acceptable, as are reusable face masks. An effective reusable face mask must:
Please note that bandanas, t-shirts, gaiters, scarves, and neck warmers are all examples of unsuitable masks and will not be accepted as an appropriate face mask.
If you do not have an appropriate mask, a disposable mask will be provided, for a limited time, at no charge.
It’s also important to remember that wearing a mask does not replace physical distancing and hand hygiene requirements. Please maintain a distance of 2 metres/6 feet from others in the store whenever possible. Hand sanitizer is also available at all Liquor Marts for your use.
You can adjust, lower or remove your mask without compromising its integrity by using the ear loops or ties. Try to avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth when removing or lowering your face mask.
If you are asked to lower or remove your mask at the point of sale for age verification, ask the Liquor Mart representative for some hand sanitizer before and after you touch your mask.
Public health guidelines recommend non-medical face coverings where proper physical distancing cannot be maintained. For this reason, we have implemented staggered customer entry to ensure that proper social distancing requirements are maintained within the vestibule.
If you are concerned that proper protocols are not being followed at the controlled entrance, please speak with the store manager.
Alternatively, two forms of government-issued identification may be shown, one of which must be photo ID. Examples include:
If you still have questions or concerns about what forms of identification are accepted at controlled entrances, please send us a message.
It is impossible for security guards to quickly and easily determine or make decisions regarding what is an appropriate age for minors to enter, and we are unable to ID minors to prove their age. For this reason, we have decided to remove access for all minors.
We know that this means you will have to plan your shopping trip to a Liquor Mart differently than you are used to. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we continue to improve safety at our stores.
If you still have questions or concerns about minors being restricted from entering our Liquor Marts, please send us a message.
Our corporate Investigation and surveillance teams work closely with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and this, coupled with the presence of WPS special duty constables and our own loss prevention officer team, has led to the identification and arrest of hundreds of individuals. We continue to diligently analyze and explore all options in addressing this issue.
• do not record the theft or robbery with your phone;
• do not try to stop, trip, or tackle thieves;
• do not try to engage, confront or follow thieves;
• do not try to recover stolen product.
Over the last few years, there has been a paradigm shift to the types of brazen thefts we have been seeing. The people committing these crimes are not your average shoplifter. They are often dangerous and have little regard for the people working and shopping at Liquor Marts. We do not want, nor expect our employees to intervene in an active crime or attempt to apprehend thieves.
All Liquor Marts are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment that captures high definition images from all angles. We work closely with the Winnipeg Police Service, and they, as well as our Loss Prevention Officer team, have been successful in catching and arresting the individuals committing these thefts.