New Law Bans Self-Service Checkout for Alcohol

[The Straight Story]

New Law Bans Self-Service Checkout for Alcohol

Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill Sunday that bans the sale of alcohol at self-service checkouts – a move that directly impacts Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market as it continues its expansion in San Francisco including one store planned for the Mission District.

The bill, AB 183, introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, takes effect January 1, 2012. It impacts Fresh & Easy in particular because the market relies solely on self-service checkout systems at its stores. The new law will require grocers to have at least one human-run checkout for all alcohol sales.

Similar bills were vetoed in 2008 and 2010 by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Despite the setback, Fresh & Easy is determined to continue its growth in California, said Brendan Wonnacott, a spokesperson for the company. When asked how this would affect the company’s new stores, he said they’re weighing the options.

http://missionlocal.org/2011/10/new-law-bans-self-service-checkout-for-alcohol/

[RB TexLa]

1. What is the reason to ban self service checkout for alcohol?

[SoCalNative]

4. I'm guessing because

with no cashier there's no ID check?

[slackmaster]

7. There was ALWAYS a human attendant on duty checking IDs as required by state law

The lack of one or more cashiers is the real issue.

[TheWraith]

11. My guess was to prevent already drunk people from buying more booze.

That said, it's a pointless and stupid law, since those terminals are barely able to be used when sober.

[RebelOne]

18. When I use the self-checkout at my local Kroger,

there is always cashier on duty. I buy wine quite often, and the screen message will say to show ID to the cashier. If you do not, you can not go any further in your check out.

[pnwmom]

12. No one to check I.D. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. They always check mine or you can't finish checking out. Stupid law. n/t.

[slackmaster]

27. Any alcoholic beverage being scanned locks up the machine, requires human override

So even someone who is obviously well over 21 gets scrutinized by a human cashier.

[SoCalNative]

2. I refuse to shop at Fresh & Easy

for the very reason that they do not employ check-out cashiers.

[JVS]

16. None at all?

[SoCalNative]

20. Nope

they only have the automated self-check-out machines there.

[JVS]

How do they sell smokes?

[Xithras]

28. Sorry, that's not correct.

I've only been in the Modesto Fresh & Easy a few times, but each time there has been a "checkout assistant" going back and forth between the self-check machines, helping people to check out and to bag their groceries. This person is also responsible for checking ID's when purchasing restricted items, and for making sure that people actually scan everything in their cart.

The registers are not unmanned.

[SoCalNative]

30. THat's not what I said

I said that all of the checkouts are of the self-checkout type, and they do not employ checkout cashiers.
One person overseeing a bunch of machines is unacceptable when there should be a human being paid wages and benefits at every machine that takes in cash.

[Xithras]

34. Do you extend that to gas pumps?

I gas my car up regularly, but can't even remember the last time I set foot in a gas station. Buying gas used to mean trudging into the store, waiting in line, and forking over cash to a human being. Nowadays, you just pull up to the pump, slide in your card, and pump your gas. No human required.

I prefer the new system. Who wants to waste time in a line?

[slackmaster]

35. Are you opposed to vending machines as well?

[Taverner]

3. What a stupid law

My inner civil libertarian reels at this kind of shit

[SoCalNative]

6. You'd prefer

underage people be able to skirt the law?

[slackmaster]

8. Is there any evidence that they were doing that?

:shrug:

If so, then the state had a legitimate interest in passing the law.

[pnwmom]

13. In my state there's plenty of evidence of minors buying alcohol.

Why make it super easy for them?

[Taverner]

17. Because going through self check is not super easy

You'd be better off going through the regular checkout. Regular checkout, they usually don't ask for ID, unless you look under 30. Self check, they ALWAYS ask for ID. And the station locks up until they can unlock it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

29. True. I never get carded going through a cashier... but ALWAYS get carded at self checkout (n/t)

[slackmaster]

26. That doesn't address my question.

Thanks.

[Taverner]

15. That is not going to happen

For one, when you try to buy alcohol in the self serve, it locks up until someone can type the code in to unlock it, thus checking your age (they always ask for ID)

Two, if underage people want to skirt they law, they will find a way. Trust me, I was underage once. I never had a problem buying alcohol. All it took was resourcefulness and creativity.

Three, I think as a country we freak out way too much over kids and drugs. In pretty much every other country, you can buy alcohol at 18. Not in 'Murica! But feel free to go and die for your country - you only have to be 16 to do that.

[cwydro]

22. I think you have to be over 16 to die for your country.

Pretty sure on that one.

[Taverner]

23. I forget if its 16 or 17 where you can join the military w/parent's permission

16 is old enough to get married in some states too

[white_wolf]

21. Yes, I would.

As someone who is only 22, the law never stopped me if me or my friends wanted to drink anyway. I'd rather err on the side of civil liberties in this case.

[GKirk]

5. Don't know about California but in Michigan...

...self serve lanes still have a person watching over things. Usually about 4 lanes to a person. If you scan beer
the system calls for that person to come over and verify the age of the buyer.

[ChandlerJr]

9. I love F&E, it's really perfect for just my wife and I. It's almost European

in concept and one or the other of us is there almost daily. I call it our pantry.

As for the booze sales, that damned machine locks up until an employee put in an approval code. I'm well into my second half century and have told them they need facial recognition for the beer.

[slackmaster]

10. Thank God those blasted machines are still too dumb to judge a person's age

:argh:

[SoCalNative]

14. I'd actually rather

there had been a bill for him to sign banning the use of self-service check-outs.

[ChandlerJr]

24. Sure, and bring back the pump jockey too

^^Missed it by that much, Chief.^^


Don't think it will happen though. Many kids in HS back in the day picked up a few bucks workin' the driveway.

[SoCalNative]

31. Why not?

in the state of New Jersey self serve gas stations are against the law. There must be someone employed there to pump every customer's gas.

[slackmaster]

32. I miss washroom attendants!

They have one at Dick's Last Resort in downtown San Diego. Always an old black gentleman. Seeing him reminds me of the men's room in the train station in Kansas City when I was a little kid in the early 1960s.

http://www.dickslastresort.com/domains/sandiego/

I always tip the man $1 if I have it handy.

[ChandlerJr]

36. Oh, I agree. I just don't see it happening.

That toothpaste is out of the tube.

[FarCenter]

33. Still have them in New Jersey, not usually HS kids though

Apparently NJ residents are too incompetent to pump gas safely.

So the legislature insists that gas be dispensed by highly trained pump jockeys.

(Actually, it is the gas station lobby in Trenton.)

[Xithras]

19. Weird. I buy alcohol at the Raleys self-check all the time.

When you scan an alcoholic drink, the screen pops up a "Please wait for assistance" message and the little overhead light turns on. The manager quickly trundles over, checks your ID, and swipes his barcode thingy over the reader to unlock the sale.

Was there really a problem with this system? I like self-check, and will be a bit irked if I can't use it just because I have a bottle of wine in the cart.

[sandyj999]

37. I always use self checkout and if I scan any alcoholic beverage the attendant comes over

and enters a code. And I'm 75! Otherwise they need to see valid proof.

[Nailzberg]

38. I'm never carded at the self-checkout.

The one attendant is usually too busy helping someone else use the machines, or scanning coupons, or whatever. They almost always glance over, and hit a button on their terminal, and it unlocks mine. And I still look exactly like I did when I was 18. I get carded at liquor stores, bars, and the human check-out lanes at the grocery store. One attendant for four machines can be easily overwhelmed into just bypassing the ID check.