Well, those handy-dandy wine kiosk machines rolled out last year by the state Liquor Control Board certainly have done wonders for turning around the image of the booze bureacucrats, now haven’t they?
Yesterday state Auditor General Jack Wagner became the latest to open fire on the kiosks, which have been a dismal failure.
They were first rolled out at some Wegmans supermarkets, but problems soon took most of them out of operation. Then Wegmans pulled the plug altogether. Now Wal-Mart is bailing on a plan to put the wine dispensers in their stores.
While stopping short of actually suggesting the LCB pull the plug, Wagner said the program should be shut down if the state can’t run it more profitably.
Instead Wagner took a different tack when it comes to sales of alcohol in the state, that state stores should be made more consumer friendly by keeping all stores open extended hours seven days a week. He complained that many stores are open only five days a week, and that Sunday hours are limited. He envisions making all state stores open seven days a week, 12 hours a day.
Oh, and one other thing. The AG also noted that the LCB spent $1.1 million more to operate the vending machines than they took in.
When it comes to sales of beer and spirits, the state continues to try to put lipstick on a pig.
Here’s a better idea. Scrap the kiosks – and the LCB while you’re at it.
There’s a move in the state Legislature to do just that. Gets my vote.
Then we can tackle the archaic way beer gets sold in this state.
Once again, it’s no wonder we’re often ridiculed as the Land of Giants.
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