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Wine sold in pilot program at Pa. markets
HARRISBURG, Pa., (UPI) -- Pennsylvania is testing the sale of wine at supermarket kiosks and a state lawmaker is pushing legislation to auction off of 750 liquor licenses.
Under the plan unveiled by state Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, the wholesale and retail operation of the liquor control board would be privatized and auctioning of the liquor licenses to grocery stores would bring in an estimated $2 billion to state coffers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday.
Two Harrisburg-area supermarkets began selling wine at kiosks under a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board pilot program Wednesday.
Under the trial process, customers insert their driver's license into a slot to show they're of drinking age while a board official at an office in Harrisburg verifies they're the same persons pictured on the licenses, the newspaper said.
Then the customers blow into a Breathalyzer to ensure their blood-alcohol level is below 0.02.
Nathan Benefield, a spokesman for the Commonwealth Foundation, said the kiosks show the lengths to which the board is willing to go to avoid privatizing, the Post-Gazette said.
"It's a very complicated process to make themselves more customer friendly without allowing for more competition," he said.
HARRISBURG, Pa., (UPI) -- Pennsylvania is testing the sale of wine at supermarket kiosks and a state lawmaker is pushing legislation to auction off of 750 liquor licenses.
Under the plan unveiled by state Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, the wholesale and retail operation of the liquor control board would be privatized and auctioning of the liquor licenses to grocery stores would bring in an estimated $2 billion to state coffers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday.
Two Harrisburg-area supermarkets began selling wine at kiosks under a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board pilot program Wednesday.
Under the trial process, customers insert their driver's license into a slot to show they're of drinking age while a board official at an office in Harrisburg verifies they're the same persons pictured on the licenses, the newspaper said.
Then the customers blow into a Breathalyzer to ensure their blood-alcohol level is below 0.02.
Nathan Benefield, a spokesman for the Commonwealth Foundation, said the kiosks show the lengths to which the board is willing to go to avoid privatizing, the Post-Gazette said.
"It's a very complicated process to make themselves more customer friendly without allowing for more competition," he said.
