Swipe, smile, blow: High-tech wine vending machines installed at Pennsylvania supermarkets

Swipe, smile, blow: Pa. has wine vending machines

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania has introduced the nation’s first vending machines for wine.

All you have to do is swipe your driver’s license, look into a surveillance camera and blow into a breath sensor.

Pennsylvania’s complicated liquor laws do not allow wine to be sold on supermarket shelves. Instead, the state is selling wine in high-tech “kiosks” in two grocery stores.

Critics say the machines are overly complicated and have overtones of Big Brother. They also express concern about sales to minors.

But many customers say they appreciate the convenience of having wine and groceries in the same place.

State officials say the kiosks could placed in 100 supermarkets in the coming months.