When you think of Walmart, you tend to often think off massive cheap shopping; but mostly you tend to think of the convenience of the one-stop shopping. Soon you might get the chance to add one more thing to the list of ‘simple to get’ items at Walmart. Pronto Wine Kiosks might start popping up at Walmart stores. If all goes as planned, they will start a trial experiment in Pennsylvania and try to branch out from there.

Wine Kiosks

The Liquor Control Board controls the wine kiosks in Pennsylvania, and started them last year as an attempt to ‘modernize’ post-prohibition alcohol sales. Wine kiosks are really nothing new, they just don’t show up on every corner like a Walmart does. They are a self-serve station that operates much like a vending machine. Pennsylvania already has 55 in local grocery stores across the state and with this venture, two dozen more will be added.

Pennsylvania has already approved the idea, but there are several kinks that need to be worked out in the contracts before the machines will actually be installed; and this will likely take months. Once the kiosks are installed, it will cost Walmart nothing more than just allowing the companies advertisements.

How the Kiosk functions

This sounds like an incredible option for every minor and every slobbering drunk out there to buy their alcohol where other usually refuse them, right? It’s not that simple. The kiosk offers around 500 bottles of wine in 45 different flavors. The machines are closed on Sundays, and just to buy a bottle you have to pay with a debit or credit card; and swipe your driver’s license to verify your age. After your age is verified, you then have to blow into a breathalyzer to make sure you aren’t already inebriated. If you don’t all the requirements to buy the wine, the sale is stopped and you are out of luck.

Articles cited

Times Leader
ABC News
The Daily Mail