Western Pa. Customers still question wine kiosks

The Liquor Control Board thinks they’re a success, but customers still have doubts about the new wine kiosks.

About a month into a trial run of wine kiosks at Pennsylvania grocery stores, reviews are mixed.   Wine kiosks have been inside two Harrisburg-area grocery stores for almost a month now, and the Liquor Control Board says they’re a big success, with an average of 80 bottles sold each day.

But some of the customers testing out the new machines aren’t so sure. Several find the required breathalyzer test too intrusive.

“Please take a deep breath and blow firmly into the breath alcohol censor, as shown in the video,” says a pleasant female voice coming from the wine machine.

A customer can’t buy wine if his or her breath-alcohol level is above .02.

Nina Yochum says she probably won’t use the kiosks again.

“I’ve never gone through so much trouble for a bottle of wine before,” she complains. “I don’t know. I don’t know if this is going to go over or not. It’s kind of a hassle.”

The machines will be introduced in Western Pennsylvania grocery stores in late August, and should be at locations across the state by the end of September.