New way to buy wine?
July 9th, 2009 5:30 pm · 9 comments
The LCB apparently wants to put these things in supermarkets throughout the state - which will go over real well here, don’t you think?
Each kiosk is several feet wide and about 10 feet high. They would vend white and red wines and would be located in supermarkets that don’t currently have LCB “one-stop shops” within them, where both wine and liquor are sold. Nineteen supermarkets in the state now have one-stop LCB stores, which is an effort to let consumers buy wine and spirits at the same place they buy food.
To buy wine from an unmanned kiosk, a buyer would have to insert his or her driver’s license to prove the purchaser is the legal age of 21. If so, the would-be buyer would then have to breathe into a breath-testing device in the kiosk. If the amount of alcohol in his breath shows he is inebriated, the sale won’t go through.
Pennsylvania is often viewed as lagging behind other states when it comes to the convenience of consumers, who must buy beer at distributors and wine or alcohol at state stores. But it would be the first state to use this kiosk system, as far as LCB officials know.
It strikes me that the LCB is intent on dragging Pennsylvania - some of us kicking and screaming - out of the post-prohibition era. It will generate the usual dark predictions about a surge in underage drinking or alcoholism. But it will also generate more revenue, and be more convenient for consumers. In this economy - that will be the bottom line.
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Tags: Alcohol · Pennsylvania
There are currently 9 comments on this blog postView Topic | Comment on this blogShawn
7/9/09
11:57 PM | What a ridiculous waste of money. Why not just put them on the shelves like other states that aren't stuck in stone ages? Let grocery stores decide how much of and what they want to stock.
Later...Shawn |
reese
7/10/09
12:45 AM | What a ridiculous waste of money. Why not just put them on the shelves like other states that aren't stuck in stone ages? Let grocery stores decide how much of and what they want to stock.
Later...Shawn
It's PLCBs version of "redbox." Of course the inebriated customers wouldn't think to get around the system by getting someone sober to do the "blow" part of the sale.
Waste of money. Just move on to the 21st century already. It's worked in other states. This isn't about concern for public safety. It's about people not wanting to give up cushy state jobs. We can't afford to meet the budget as it is. Of all the jobs that would seem to be ripe for plucking, it seems PLCB should be top of the list. |
lanzate
7/10/09
6:58 AM | The power of the LCB in pennsylvania has nothing to do with "stone-age prohibition" thinking. It has everything to do with profits for the state. They would not even give up this money maker when times were good. No way the state will let grocery stores steal their profits when times are bad. Public opinion has been pushing hard for wine sales in grocery stores for years and this seems like a way for the state to maintain their profits from it without giving it all to the grocery stores.
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Shirley U Geste
7/10/09
7:05 AM | $80 million in profits came from the LCB to the state general fund for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. I understand last year was a record year in sales so it would be safe to assume that profit increased for 2008-2009. It is common sense not to give up that kind of money during a budget deficit. |
acm_acm
7/10/09
8:01 AM | Of course the inebriated will figure out a way around the breath-test, just like underageds will swipe a parent's (or other adult's) ID to be able to buy. Duh! JUST PUT IN ON THE SHELF LIKE NEARLY EVERY OTHER STATE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Store can actually check the ID then. We're actually tighter than Utah on some aspects of alcohol sales. It's easier to drive MD and at least be able to get what you want. |
Pericles
7/10/09
8:28 AM | The power of the LCB in pennsylvania has nothing to do with "stone-age prohibition" thinking. It has everything to do with profits for the state. They would not even give up this money maker when times were good. No way the state will let grocery stores steal their profits when times are bad. Public opinion has been pushing hard for wine sales in grocery stores for years and this seems like a way for the state to maintain their profits from it without giving it all to the grocery stores.
Correct. But Gil can't help but blame conservatives. That's the only card in his deck.
The beer distributors, special interests like MADD and the liquor store workers' union is what keeps PA in the stone age. It has very little to do conservatives, who me being a proud member, would welcome competition and better access to adult beverages.
What a ridiculous waste of money. Why not just put them on the shelves like other states that aren't stuck in stone ages? Let grocery stores decide how much of and what they want to stock.
Later...Shawn
But according to the LCB, you have the same access to wine as people in all other states. If there is a particular wine you like that they don't stock, all you have to do is go to a state store, use their catalog, order the wine through them, wait for it to be shipped, wait some more, then they call you, then go back to store and pick up your order. Isn't that simple? Exactly the same as calling the winery and having it over-nighted directly to you. |
Pericles
7/10/09
8:38 AM | $80 million in profits came from the LCB to the state general fund for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. I understand last year was a record year in sales so it would be safe to assume that profit increased for 2008-2009. It is common sense not to give up that kind of money during a budget deficit.
But the facts are different. Privatization of liquor sales would not decrease state revenue.
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/news...-private-liquor
“Privatization of the LCB would likely benefit the consumers of Pennsylvania through increased choice and lower prices,” stated Segal. Segal added that most states outside Pennsylvania currently allow liquor sales in private stores.
Furthermore, Segal noted that state revenue would not decline with liquor store privatization. “Taxes on wine, beer and spirits don’t go away with privatization,” said Segal. “Those revenues will continue to flow, if not go up, with increased sales.”
Underwood further commented on the potential windfall for privatization, noting that updated estimates of a divesture of the LCB wholesale structure would net $1 billion, while a sale of the retail structure could generate $700 million. Thus, LCB privatization could reasonably net the state $1.7 billion in a one-time influx of capital that could be utilized for tax relief. |
lanzate
7/10/09
8:39 AM | Correct. But Gil can't help but blame conservatives. That's the only card in his deck.
The beer distributors, special interests like MADD and the liquor store workers' union is what keeps PA in the stone age. It has very little to do conservatives, who me being a proud member, would welcome competition and better access to adult beverages.
But according to the LCB, you have the same access to wine as people in all other states. If there is a particular wine you like that they don't stock, all you have to do is go to a state store, use their catalog, order the wine through them, wait for it to be shipped, wait some more, then they call you, then go back to store and pick up your order. Isn't that simple? Exactly the same as calling the winery and having it over-nighted directly to you.
Someone ask me last week what is the difference between mennonites and amish. I told him mennonites like to make their own beer, while amish prefer to make their own wine.
Believe me, I know many of both and this is very true. They just won't sell it so if you are in the tourist industry don't get your hopes up.
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Shirley U Geste
7/10/09
5:52 PM | QUOTE But the facts are different. Privatization of liquor sales would not decrease state revenue. http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/news...-private-liquor
Those are not facts. They are assumptions. I can see their point, but see one major flaw. If prices go down then the tax revenue goes down. Taxes are a percentage of the sale. I can agree with increased sales, but will it be enough to make up for the lower prices?
I specifically quoted the extra profits from the state being in the liquor sales business. These extra profits went in to the general government fund. I speficially left taxes out of the equation since they would be the same if the state sold the alcohol or someone else did. Some years were as much as $150 million.
If they need more money, they could raise the tax rate!
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