Vending Machine Wine

Along with candy bars and coke residents of Pennsylvania can now purchase wine from vending machines, as long as they pass a couple of tests first.

The Keystone state is currently testing out two wine kiosks at supermarkets in the cities of Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg. And if these machines prove to be a hit, another 98 will be installed all across the state come fall. The adults’ only vending machines work by asking customers for their age, identity and blood alcohol level.

Once you have selected a bottle of wine from the 55 on display, you must insert your driver’s license into the machine to show that you are at least 21-years-old. Then your identity is matched to your license via video link. A member of the Pennsylvania liquor control board checks you out through a camera installed in the machine to make sure you match up with the license. Finally you must blow into a breathalyzer, if your blood alcohol level is lower than 0.02 the sale is completed.

And despite all those obstacles, revenue is about 40% higher than expected with about $35,000 of vending machine wine purchased so far. I sure hope those machines are tamper proof.