PA wine machine

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Dan in PA

If you can't wait for yours to age - you now have this option.
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<h1 id="line" ="entry-title" property="dc:title">Swipe, smile, blow: Pa. has wine vending machines</h1>
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Some question machines' efficacy in preventing sales to minors</h2>





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Bradley C Bower</span>/AP</span>
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<div ="caption">In this June 25, 2010 photo, Jacqueline Love
purchases her first bottle of wine from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control
Board's self-serve wine kiosk at a Giant food store, in Harrisburg, Pa.
(AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

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by KATHY MATHESON</span>
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<abbr style="display: inline;" ="dtstamp updated" title="2010-07-08T12:15:24">7/8/2010 8:15:24 AM ET</abbr>

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Swipe your driver's license, look
into the camera, blow into the breath sensor and — voila! — you have
permission to buy a bottle of wine from a vending machine.




Pennsylvania, which has some of the most Byzantine liquor laws in the
U.S., recently introduced the country's first wine "kiosks." If the
machines are successful in their test run inside two grocery stores, the
state Liquor Control Board could place the high-tech alcohol automats
in about 100 others.


But does anyone want to buy wine this way?


It seems the answer is yes. Customers using the machine at a Giant
supermarket outside Harrisburg were thrilled that it could be a
permanent fixture.


"This is just convenient one-stop shopping," said Darby Golec, 28, of Enola. "It'll be nice to have it all in one area."


The vending machines are a testament to both the wonder of technology
and the obscurity of Pennsylvania's complicated liquor laws.


Individuals can buy wine and liquor for home consumption only in
state-owned stores staffed by public employees. Private beer
distributors sell cases and kegs only. Licensed corner stores, delis,
bars and restaurants can sell beer to go, but only up to two six-packs
per customer.

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Numerous attempts at reform have been turned back by special
interests intent on keeping their slice of the pie. So simply stocking
Chianti and cabernet on supermarket shelves is not an option under the state's post-Prohibition liquor laws.


The liquor board has tried to be more consumer-friendly in recent
years, including opening 19 full-service state stores in supermarkets.
The board touts the kiosks as another step toward modernization — "an
added level of convenience in today's busy society," liquor board
Chairman Patrick Stapleton said in a statement.


Not everyone is swallowing that line.

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Craig Wolf, president and CEO of the Wine &amp; Spirits Wholesalers
of America, questioned the machines' efficacy in preventing sales to
minors.


Keith Wallace, president and founder of The Wine School of
Philadelphia, described the kiosks as well-intentioned failures with
limited selections and overtones of Big Brother.


"The process is cumbersome and assumes the worst in Pennsylvania's
wine consumers — that we are a bunch of conniving underage drunks,"
Wallace wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "(Liquor board)
members are clearly detached from reality if they think these machines
offer any value to the consumer."


Conshohocken-based Simple Brands provides the kiosks free in exchange for the ability to sell ads on attached flat-screen monitors.


The machines are about the size of four large refrigerators, though
the wines are kept at room temperature. An ATM-type device sits at one
end.


A customer chooses a wine on a touch-screen display, swipes an ID,
blows into an alcohol sensor (no contact with the machine is required)
and looks into a surveillance camera. A state employee in Harrisburg
remotely approves the sale after verifying the buyer matches the photo ID.


State officials say the process takes 20 seconds. The kiosks only
take credit or debit cards, and they're closed on Sundays and holidays. A
"convenience fee" of $1 would be added after the pilot phase.


The machine got a warm reception at Giant, where customers asked lots
of questions and perused brochures describing the 53 available wines,
from Argentine malbecs to California merlots.


Simple Brands President Jim Lesser doesn't anticipate much business
from connoisseurs, but they're not the targeted demographic.


"They were developed for the average consumer who wants a nice bottle of wine with their steak and seafood," Lesser said.


Japan and Europe have beer vending machines, but Lesser said the
self-serve alcohol concept probably wouldn't have worked in the U.S.
until now. Today, he noted, Americans use kiosks for everything from
buying movie tickets to checking in for airplane flights.
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Exit surveys show customers like the wine kiosks' convenience and easy use, and early sales have exceeded expectations, said Lesser. Eventually, the machines may be seen in other states, he said.


Wendell Young IV, president of the union representing state wine
store workers, anticipates some new jobs, from remote camera staffing to
kiosk restocking. The number of jobs depends on sales, he said.


Local vintners are watching the initiative closely. Lee Miller, owner
of Pennsylvania-based Chaddsford Winery, said she'll support anything
that might boost sales.


"If they're not going to put it on the shelf, I think it's a great way to offer wine to people," Miller said.


Bob Mazza, owner of Mazza Vineyards near Erie, is disappointed that
none of the approximately 120 wineries in the state are represented in
the kiosks.


"You would think they would subscribe to the idea to support local industry," Mazza said.


Liquor Control Board spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said the machines are
stocked with proven sellers for the pilot period and will be
re-evaluated based on customer feedback.



© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</span>

 

[xanxer82]

That was in the paper not too long ago. Not too far from Harrisburg.

 

[Tom]

I understand it will be VERY FEW state stores

 

[Wade E]

Think anyone would notice if I built one and filled it with my wine?

 

[Tom]

WE would and will be right over for "SAMPLES"!

 

[Brent2489]

My wife flew into Harrisburg for the week for business. Maybe I need to send her over there to do a report for us!!