The Wine Vending Machines of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has some of the screwiest liquor laws in the country. It also now has one of the screwiest retail gimmicks* I've ever seen: wine vending machines. It requires you to swipe your ID, have your identity verified via camera by someone at a call center and take a breathalyzer test before you can your bottle of wine.

I hadn't heard about the contraption until this recent news report from KDKA in Pittsburgh (via Gawker) about Wal-Mart seeking to add the wine vending machines. A couple of other grocery chains already have them, and this AP report from a few months ago shows off the odd device:



* Not that I wouldn't welcome one in the RFT break room.

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