Pennsylvania LCB loses Wegmans wine-kiosk deal
Beer Week, schmeer week. Looks like it’s Wine Week, too.
Wegmans Food Markets has decided to pull out of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s wine-kiosk program. But the LCB has a backup: Walmart.
The upscale supermarket will remove the 10 kiosks it has, but talks with Walmart are in the works to install the LCB-controlled machines in 24 locations. There are currently 32 kiosks statewide.
A report from the Inquirer says the kiosks just weren’t attracting customers the way Wegmans had hoped, and frequent malfunctions had begun to annoy customers.
The kiosks were a step by the LCB to avoid privatization. And because it’s now unofficially Wine Week, we’ve got news for you on that front, too.
A report from the Task Force on Community Preventive Services says privatization would likely “increase alcohol consumption and alcohol-related social problems.” You can read the full policy brief from the Keystone Research Center here.
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