Last Wednesday it was announced that Pennsylvania, with assistance from top NASA engineers, is developing new technology that may someday allow them the ability to serve beers in containers of six. A “six pack” if you will. This reminded me of another change on the way…

As a former PA resident I can say it’s hard to find a state with tougher beer and alcohol regulations.  That’s right, you heard me Utah.

Penn’s rules create a very limited amount of locations that beer and liquor can be purchased, locations that always seem to be 45 minutes from wherever you are in the Keystone State. But as the Philadelphia Weekly reported last week Pennsylvania has new solution they are implementing this year:

“The plan doesn’t include six-pack sales in grocery stores. It doesn’t allow for independent wine and liquor stores. It doesn’t even add more state-run stores, or longer hours of operation or any change in the liquor laws that Philadelphians would actually appreciate. Instead, lawmakers and the LCB bring you the weirdest idea in retail history: Wine vending machines. Starting in May, the state liquor authority will install 100 wine kiosks throughout Pennsylvania. The plan, apparently designed to sell as little product as possible, promises to deliver a bizarre customer experience. Patrons use a touch screen to select the wine they want and blow into a breathalyzer to confirm their sobriety.”

That’s right Pennsylvania, if you want to get a bottle of wine for the evening your first going to have to blow into a machine that a hundred people have blown into before you. The city of brotherly love just got a whole lot closer. Under those conditions I guess you could see why Philadelphia residents would tend to act like this.