Swipe, smile, blow: Pennsylvania has wine vending machines
The country's first wine kiosks are being tested in two Pa. grocery stores.
WINE TO GO: A shopper inspects the wine offerings from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's self-serve wine kiosk at a Giant food store, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo: Bradley C. Bower/AP)
Comments
The kiosk in the Wegman's near me malfunctions more often than it works, so lately the sign on the machine says something to the effect of "Wegman's prides itself in giving quality service to its customers, and for that reason we will not offer this wine kiosk service until the bugs are worked out". Why not just update our liquor laws instead???
What an interesting concept! I doubt we would have such convenience back in Malaysia.. what would be great though is to have it 24/7!
Seriously - when are Pennsylvanians going to wake up and stop letting Big Nanny government run them, instead of demanding the government work FOR them?
Close up the state run liquor stores (what is this, the Soviet Union in the 70's?) and let private business do what it does best at lower cost and far greater consumer convenience.
Numerous attempts at reform are turned back by special interests, so liquor stores "aren't an option" ?!?
Start writing letters, start voting, start.... More
Aside from the other points that have already been made, the fact that this is only open when other liquor stores are open is perhaps the most absurd part of a hugely absurd enterprise. Part of making it "convenient" to get wine would be to allow us to buy it on Sundays.
I absolutely hate the alcohol laws in Pa. I go to college in a different state and just so use to going into the grocery store and buying beer and wine (as much as I want) in the same place and for a reasonable price. Whenever I go home, if I want a beer or wine, I have to schlep my way to a Pa State Wine and Spirits store, go to the few select grocery/corner stores, or go to a bar. I don't mind going to the liquor store to get my liquor or wine, but I do not like having to buy a 6-pack at a.... More
i started at Pitt this summer--coming from Michigan I was totally lost by the lack of availablity. In Michigan you can run to meijer and get beer, wine, or liquor. I couldn't find a 6-pack of Bell's Two Hearted anywhere near my apartment and ended up having to get an entire case.
I'm 20, not legally old enough to purchase but in PA all I'll need is some stranger's '89 driver's licence who looks like me and I'm good to go! Woo hoo!
First of all, this isn't a problem that would only be specific to the machines -- it's true whenever alcohol is sold that somebody could use a fake ID to get it.
But did you read the part where it said it only takes debit and credit cards? I would imagine that if the name on your ID didn't match the name on your card, the sale wouldn't go through.
So, it's probably easier to buy booze underage from a store than it is from a kiosk, since you can pay cash and thus not have to verify your.... More
i like how americans make a big thing from drinking and buying alcohol; here in europe i can get whine, beer and liquor 24/7 at any shop, bar, kiosk, gas station and so forth.
even if i can not give certain numbers but i believe that the rate of alcohol abuse is around the same than in America; if you have scientific numbers on that, i ll love to hear bout it.
greeting from europe
I think Sweden and Finland are part of Europe as well. And in those countries it works pretty much like in Pennsylvania. You can by beer from grocery stores (up to 3,5% in Sweden and up to 4,7% in Finland) and for stuff stronger than that, you'll have to visit one of the state's own alcohol monopoly shops. And they are opened during daytime only. I don't really know how it works in other scandinavian countries, but I think Denmark at least is a lot more liberal.
I don't think the system here is.... More
Why is there a requirement that you be sober to purchase alcohol?
Outside of attempting to slap some easy public drunkenness fines on folks, I don't understand the (what must be seemingly) legal reasoning behind this.
If you are legally of age to drink, not operating a vehicle, and not causing a scene, i.e. disturbing the public. There should be no reason to inhibit you from purchasing anything, alcohol included.
This idea while being done in the name of"convenience".... More
Agreed. The blood alcohol limit at the kiosks is .02, that's like having one drink. Why can't I buy wine if I've had one drink? I can buy it at the liquor store if I've had one drink. And yet you still want to slap a $1 "convenience fee" on me for THAT? Ya know they COULD just EMPLOY someone to check your ID at the kiosks. Then you could create some effing jobs.
1 upside it is easy the t large down are the breathalyzer and the 1$ "Convenience few" if it was outside the store or and open when the store was not or if i could buy liquor i could overlook it but as is i find it far less troublesome to just check out. Regardless it is nice to see just not for me
