Tesco has replaced bottles of Malibu on its shelves with empty cardboard box versions to thwart shoplifters.
Customers have to ask staff to fetch them a real one from out the back.
The 70cl bottles of the coconut-flavoured rum drink cost just £12.50.
But the measure has been brought in to stop them being pinched.
The supermarket giant has also done it for £19 bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin.
The dummy boxes were spotted at Tesco Express in Gloucester Road, in upmarket South Kensington, west London yesterday (29 Dec).
One shopper told Need To Know: “Customers are now met with an empty cardboard display box.
“The real bottles are kept out of reach in secure storage areas to deter shoplifters while still allowing customers to browse the range.”
But he fumed: “I asked for a bottle and it took them 10 minutes to bring it from the back of the store.
“It has led to longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods, as customers wait for staff to become available.
Another shopper – called Sue – said: “Ridiculous how bad it’s gotten.”
Ex-supermarket Dan claimed security tags were too easy for crooks to take off.
He added: “Underneath the shelf there’s loads of alarmed tags ripped off then they’re off.
“I worked in Morrisons and there were a 100 odd underneath.”
Tesco has been approached for comment.
