For most of us, a trip to the grocery store is a mundane chore. For a certain type of online “prankster,” however, it is a stage for their next viral video. These so-called pranks often involve creating a mess, harassing employees, and causing a major disruption for other shoppers. While the prankster may think their antics are funny, the store’s management and the law often disagree. These eight viral grocery store pranks have all led to the participants being kicked out, banned, or even arrested.
1. The “Ice Cream Licking” Challenge
This was one of the most infamous and disgusting viral trends. It involved a person going to the freezer aisle, opening a tub of ice cream, licking the top of it, and then putting it back on the shelf. This is not a harmless prank; it is a serious public health risk and a crime. The people who were caught participating in this challenge were charged with food tampering, a felony offense.
2. “Gallon Smashing”
The “gallon smashing” trend was another dangerous and destructive prank. It involved a person “accidentally” slipping and falling in a grocery store aisle. As they fell, they would smash two gallons of milk on the floor, creating a huge mess. This prank not only wastes food, but it also creates a serious slip-and-fall hazard for other customers. The people who were caught were often banned from the store and were sometimes forced to pay for the damages.
3. The Fake Slip and Fall
This is a prank that can quickly turn into a felony insurance fraud case. It involves a person who fakes a “slip and fall” accident in the store in the hopes of getting a cash settlement from the store’s insurance company. The store’s high-definition security cameras, however, make this a very difficult scam to pull off. The people who are caught are often arrested and charged with a serious crime.
4. Moving Products to the Wrong Aisles
A more “harmless” but still very annoying prank is to move a large number of products to the wrong part of the store. A prankster might take all the cans of tuna and hide them in the cereal aisle. While this may seem funny, it is a major headache for the store’s employees. They have to spend a huge amount of time cleaning up the mess. It can also lead to the prankster being kicked out for disorderly conduct.
5. Loud Noises and Fake Announcements
A common and very juvenile prank is to run through a store and scream or make a fake announcement over the intercom. This is a disruptive and often scary experience for the other shoppers. This type of behavior will almost always result in the prankster being immediately kicked out of the store by the management or the security staff.
6. The “Fake Shopper” Prank
This prank involves a person who pretends to be a store employee. They will put on a similar-colored shirt and then go around the store and give bad or ridiculous advice to other customers. While this may seem like a harmless joke, it can quickly cross the line into harassment. It is another form of disruptive behavior that can get a person banned.
7. The Shopping Cart Obstacle Course
Another prank is to gather a large number of shopping carts and to use them to create a blockade or an obstacle course in an aisle or a parking lot. This is a major inconvenience for other shoppers. It is also a potential safety hazard. The people who are caught doing this are often kicked out and are sometimes charged with trespassing.
8. Abusing the Free Sample Station
The free sample station is a nice perk for shoppers. Some pranksters will abuse this by trying to take the entire tray of samples or by creating a mess at the station. This kind of selfish and inconsiderate behavior can ruin the experience for everyone else. It can also get the person kicked out of the store.
The Unfunny Prank
The viral “prank” culture has turned the grocery store into a stage for a new kind of public nuisance. These actions are not a harmless joke. They are a disruptive and disrespectful burden on the store’s employees and its other customers. They can also have very real and very serious legal consequences. A few seconds of online fame is not worth a criminal record or a lifetime ban from your local store.
What do you think is the worst or most annoying grocery store prank you have ever seen? Let us know in the comments!
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