Concern over alcoholic drink vending machines

Related tags Underage drinkers Alcoholic beverage

New vending machines selling alcoholic drinks will "cut the potential for flashpoints at the bar", according to the company supplying them.But...

New vending machines selling alcoholic drinks will "cut the potential for flashpoints at the bar", according to the company supplying them.

But licensees claim the Boozebox machines could lead to problems with underage and irresponsible drinking.

Automated Bar Vending believes the machines, which sell 330ml bottles of beer, RTDs and soft drinks, will help cut down queues at bars, sorting out any friction and helping barstaff.

Stuart King, marketing manager, said that with a target market of nightclubs and bars the machines would not be accessible to underage drinkers.

"There are doorstaff at these venues, meaning they won't be letting underage drinkers in. We will not be selling these machines to your average local pub," he said.

And Mr King was adamant that the company would not be looking to cash in at the expense of responsibility. "I don't think you can do this type of thing irresponsibly. It just won't work. As soon as a picture gets published in the press of a 15-year old slumped against the machine too drunk to put the coins in then we are finished as a business."

The firm claims it is working with several major drinks companies on various projects involving Boozebox.

But Danny Scott, licensee of Rick's Bar in Greenwich, believes Boozebox could cause problems. "You only have to be 16 to go into a licensed premises, so I don't think these machines should be sold to pubs," he said. "Maybe they should only be in venues that have an over-21s policy."

Tracy Bird, licensee of the Newman Arms in London's West End, was equally unsure. "For clubbers who just want a soft drink, taking away those 20 minute queues would be great. But there are risks with underage drinkers," she said.

Related topics Legislation

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