Morrisons shoppers furious as supermarket introduces 'crazy' new security measure

A local Morrisons in the West Country has decided to put a cork on shoplifting incidences by introducing a "buzz for booze" security system for its alcohol aisle. Despite the intentions behind the safety measure, the move has sparked an uproar among patrons, with some branding the change as "crazy".

At this bustling supermarket in Chippenham, the new approach to loss prevention is stirring up discussions amongst customers. The system has been incorporated into the spirits section of the store, reports Somerset Live.

The selection of spirits is now secured behind locked cabinets at the Morrisons branch, requiring shoppers to press a buzzer that summons a staff member to unlock the doors. This adaptation, however, has not gone down well with many who took to Facebook to air their frustrations.

Concerns have been voiced over potential holdups while waiting to access the liquor, with fears it could cause significant delays in-store shopping experiences. Nonetheless, Morrisons stands by their decision, stating the long waits will not ensue.

The supermarket giant has acknowledged the feature is a proactive "security measure" and mirrors similar initiatives successfully rolled out in other stores nationwide over recent months.

One shopper commented: "The very real risk is that this will reduce overall sales depending on how long customers have to wait for the button to be answered. The price of the alcohol will need to be extremely competitive to make any extra wait worthwhile. There are plenty of alternatives in Chippenham."

They also added another layer to the issue, expressing concern for the employees: "I would also like to understand what thought has been given to the staff... asking them to look after this aisle along with other customer-facing responsibilities will not work, particularly in the run-up to Christmas."

"Hope they have a member of staff permanently in that aisle otherwise there will be a lot of people having to wait", one shopper expressed. Another customer noted with relief: "Glad I shop online, imagine the carnage at Christmas."

The new security measures have evoked not only jokes but also sympathy for the store workers, with some pointing out that it's due to an uptick in theft. One person reflected the sentiment: "If it wasn't for the people who go into that shop on an almost daily basis and attempt or do steal, then they wouldn't be required. At least now there should be products available for the actual customers."

Yet another weighed in: "I feel bad for the stores... they are in a catch-22 situation."

Assuaging concerns over potential delays, a Morrisons spokesperson asserted that spirited purchases at its Chippenham location will be notably swift: "The cabinets are being used in a number of our stores as part of their security measures, as are others across the industry."

They continued, conferring assurance about the customer experience, "We have a colleague in the area and the buzzer also goes to the store headsets so customers can expect really prompt service," further confirming how the well-being of shoppers remains a top priority amidst security upgrades.

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