PA Wine Kiosks - seriously?

[ckay87]

So I was reading up on the new wine kiosks that are being set up in PA. Yes, folks, these are vending machines that dispense wine. Why? Because heaven forbid they put that devil juice right on the grocery shelves. All of us moronic Pennsylvanians would go bonkers and die of alcohol poisoning. Anyway, enough sarcasm....I was on the PLCB website, reading up on how these things are supposed to work. After a detailed explanation of how IDs are checked (swiped and verified by a manned-camera - something any checkout girl could do), I get to the next part. Hooo Boy! This gets better all the time! What do you think of THIS craziness:

"How do the kiosks work?"
"....Before the transaction is completed, consumers will have to test their breath alcohol concentration by using a breathalyzer.... The sensor can determine whether a consumer is over a set breath alcohol level, or BrAC, simply by having the consumer blow into an opening located on the kiosk. The customer service representative will be presented with a pass/fail indication based on the sensor results."

 

[mhsjax]

So I was reading up on the new wine kiosks that are being set up in PA. Yes, folks, these are vending machines that dispense wine. Why? Because heaven forbid they put that devil juice right on the grocery shelves. All of us moronic Pennsylvanians would go bonkers and die of alcohol poisoning. Anyway, enough sarcasm....I was on the PLCB website, reading up on how these things are supposed to work. After a detailed explanation of how IDs are checked (swiped and verified by a manned-camera - something any checkout girl could do), I get to the next part. Hooo Boy! This gets better all the time! What do you think of THIS craziness:

"How do the kiosks work?"
"....Before the transaction is completed, consumers will have to test their breath alcohol concentration by using a breathalyzer.... The sensor can determine whether a consumer is over a set breath alcohol level, or BrAC, simply by having the consumer blow into an opening located on the kiosk. The customer service representative will be presented with a pass/fail indication based on the sensor results."

YOu can't buy wine in grocery stores up in PA? I didn't know this, where do you go to purchase wine or beer? Do you have to go to a liquor store?

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I just moved to PA and still getting used to the "beer store". Beer stores sell beer. To get wine and alcohol, you have to go to a wine store.

I am from NJ where they so not sell alcohol in grocery stores but you go to a liquor store for everything, beer, wine, hard stuff.

 

[mtemm]

my dh is in the beverage industry and he says that PA is wacky when it comes to alcoholic bev. that pretty much confirms it to me. lol.

 

[RUDisney]

YOu can't buy wine in grocery stores up in PA? I didn't know this, where do you go to purchase wine or beer? Do you have to go to a liquor store?

Don't even get me started on buying wine in PA. I joined Free the Grapes several years ago and I lobby my state senators and representatives all the time for the ability to have wine directly shipped to my house.

If the PLCB doesn't think I should have access to a particular wine, too bad for me, I can't order it and have it shipped. Be in a wine club to obtain discounts on its selections? Nope, not in PA. If the PLCB agrees that I can buy a particular bottle that it has to ship to my store, I have to buy the quantity of it that it deems necessary. So, when you have a friend hitting a milestone birthday, you can't just buy one bottle of Old Fart wine, you have to buy half a case. I still have a few bottles in my wine cellar waiting for other friends to have a milestone birthday.

As for the kiosks, it sounds absurd, but that's what I've come to expect from the PLCB.

 

[RitaE]

That's hilarious.

Maybe next they'll include a short competency quiz where you'll have to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the dangers of over indulging. Also a notarized statement where you pledge to never serve an under-aged child a glass of Chablis and swear to quiz every female of childbearing ages on her possible pregnancy status before allowing her a sip.

 

[Kies99]

In Pennsylvania, Wine and Liquour has to be bought at a STATE-OWNED "Wine & Spirits" shop. It's a complete government monopoly.

Beer can be sold by the individual bottle at a "bottle shop" (generally a restaurant or bar). Six packs can be sold at bars and restaurants. There are no 12 packs sold in Pennsylvania. Cases (24) are sold through "Beer Distributors". The beer distributors have a very powerful lobbying group to keep it this way.

Some grocery stores and gas stations have challenged this, but in order to sell the beer (only by the bottle or six pack) the store has to have a separate area that serves food and allows for it's consumption on site. Basically they have to have an in-store restaurant. Even though you don't have to consume the beer on-site, you have to be allowed to if you want. This separate area also has to have a separate entrance/exit and register for check out.

What's really funny is when you hear the arguments from the state and from the private beer distributors. The number 1 reason for doing it this was is to protect the people. If this were truly the case then why do either group sell alcohol at all? If they were SOOOO concerned about our safety then they wouldn't sell it.

 

[golfgal]

The kiosks sound like it would take more time to get the wine then it would to actually drink the wine .

We can buy 3.2 beer in grocery stores/gas stations here but everything else is sold in liquor stores. Some towns have municipal stores only and others allow private owners to open stores. No alcohol can be sold on Sunday's here.

 

[DrCavin]

Oh yeah I want to be next in line behind some sloppy drunk that just "breathed" into the kiosk.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The number 1 reason for doing it this was is to protect the people.

I don't get it either. How is forcing people to buy MORE alcohol than they want protecting them?

 

[jrmasm]

We have one the kiosks in one of our local grocery stores. I've never used it because I rarely buy wine. I do walk past it several times a week and I'm confused by the quoted information since I have never seen a customer service rep. Maybe they only pop out if you're drunk?

I've lived in PA all my life so I'm used to the crazy laws for buying booze but am so thankful that the same store has a license to sell beer.

 

[marcyinPA]

The whole PA liquor/wine/ beer thing makes me crazy. It's all about money...that is the bottom line. If beer and wine were sold in the grocery stores, the beer distributors and the state of PA would be out millions of dollars.

Only one of our grocery stores (Wegman's) sells beer...six packs...and it is such a hassle to buy it there. It needs to be a separate purchase, and can only be purchased in the restaurant area of the store. From what I understand, Wegman's jumped through many hoops to be able to sell beer. The distributors were NOT happy.

I am used to the set up here, because I've lived here all my life and it is what it is. But I have to say that I LOVE visiting my family in NH and buying my beer and wine right with my groceries!!

 

[ckay87]

We have one the kiosks in one of our local grocery stores. I've never used it because I rarely buy wine. I do walk past it several times a week and I'm confused by the quoted information since I have never seen a customer service rep. Maybe they only pop out if you're drunk?

I've lived in PA all my life so I'm used to the crazy laws for buying booze but am so thankful that the same store has a license to sell beer.

The "customer service representative" is some creep watching you on camera to make sure your ID matches up and to make sure you pass the breathalyzer. Here is the whole article:

http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/...s_detail.asp?press_no=10-14&psearch=&offset=0

Which kind of begs the question....why? I buy a lot of wine at either a state store or local winery. I've never had to take a breathalyzer . I'm sure if I were staggering around the clerk would deny my purchase, but I'm pretty sure I could pull off a wine purchase with a buzz. Not that I would - just an example of why I'm confused by this sudden breathalyzer requirement.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I've been in Pa 14 years and the alcohol issue doesn't bug me because NY wasn't all that much different when I lived there and NJ is super strict too. In fact I remember being stunned to see wine in the grocery store when I was in California and I also can distinctly remember the first time I saw beer in a grocery store too. It's just not a necessity so i always thought it was strange to have booze where you buy food. I don't object, I just think it's a powerful message enforcing the idea they belong together.

For most people it's no big deal, I've never been tempted to buy just because it's there or tempted to drink just because someone else is drinking. But that's just me. Out of respect for the people who can't control themselves and are fighting with alcoholism I'm ok with being a little inconvenienced.

I didn't know about the the vending machines though and think the breathalyzer is a weird idea because it's so easy to circumvent. All a person would have to do is either buy a bunch when sober or ask a friend to buy.

Anyone remember when cigarettes were in vending machines and those were banned? How can anyone justify booze in vending machines and not cigarettes? It's not like one is more dangerous than the other.

 

[msjprincess]

nevermind found the answer

 

[jrmasm]

I've been in Pa 14 years and the alcohol issue doesn't bug me because NY wasn't all that much different when I lived there and NJ is super strict too. In fact I remember being stunned to see wine in the grocery store when I was in California and I also can distinctly remember the first time I saw beer in a grocery store too. It's just not a necessity so i always thought it was strange to have booze where you buy food. I don't object, I just think it's a powerful message enforcing the idea they belong together.

For most people it's no big deal, I've never been tempted to buy just because it's there or tempted to drink just because someone else is drinking. But that's just me. Out of respect for the people who can't control themselves and are fighting with alcoholism I'm ok with being a little inconvenienced.
I didn't know about the the vending machines though and think the breathalyzer is a weird idea because it's so easy to circumvent. All a person would have to do is either buy a bunch when sober or ask a friend to buy.

Anyone remember when cigarettes were in vending machines and those were banned? How can anyone justify booze in vending machines and not cigarettes? It's not like one is more dangerous than the other.

The bolded as a reason for the laws is total bull sh*t.

 

[LuvOrlando]

The bolded as a reason for the laws is total bull sh*t.

I don't understand what you mean by this, do you mean you don't care about folks dealing with alcoholism or is there something else to it? I'm not going to disagree with you I just want to understand you. To each their own & all that.

 

[bgirldeb]

Anyone remember when cigarettes were in vending machines and those were banned? How can anyone justify booze in vending machines and not cigarettes? It's not like one is more dangerous than the other.

Healthwise I would say cigarettes are definitely more dangerous.

 

[marcyinPA]

What do you mean?

I understood this. Meaning, you need to buy a case of beer at a distributor. They only sell it in cases. Is the protection of the public really the issue if they are willing to sell you a whole case, rather than just a six-pack?

 

[marcyinPA]

The thing with cigarettes is that you can't just smoke them socially and be OK. They will kill you, whether you smoke a pack a day or just a couple once in a while.

Responsible people can drink a beer or a glass of wine without any incident. Not everyone who drinks alcohol is an alcoholic. But every person who smokes a cigarette is risking their lives to cancer and other major illnesses.