Winning Wine Kiosk Bidder Has Rendell Connections

[RamboLiberal]

A Team 4 investigation finds that the idea of a vending-machine system to sell wine in Pennsylvania grocery stores will benefit two of Gov. Ed Rendell's biggest campaign contributors. One of them is a close friend of the governor.

Several years ago, a company called Simple Brands proposed putting wine vending machines -- or kiosks -- in grocery stores.

The Liquor Control Board put the plan up for bid and Simple Brands was the only company to respond.

Two of the main investors with Simple Brands have given Rendell nearly a half-million dollars in campaign contributions.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/team4/20228816/detail.html

These kiosks are a stupid idea in the first place. Now we know why Rendell is pushing them. Time for PA and their basakwards State Stores and not letting grocery stores sell wine & beer to get out of the retail liquor business and get in to the 21st century.

As complicated as these kiosks are I expect they will be broken down quite often. And I wonder about how sanitary? Sound Rube Goldberg to me.

The self-service machines would dispense bottles of wine to shoppers who insert a driver's license into the kiosk to prove they are at least 21. Shoppers would be photographed to check for a match with the license's picture.

A testing device connected to the kiosk would check a buyer's breath for intoxication, which would block the transaction.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1248911708125480.xml&coll=1