Self-serve beer vending stations debut

The art of pouring a pint is one that many publicans take pride in. But sports fans across the US could soon be doing the work themselves.

Credit: Twitter @darrenrovell

The DraftServ self-serve beer station made its debut at a Minnesota baseball game in Target Field last week – the result of a partnership between concessionaire Delaware North and Anheuser-Busch, as reported by ESPN. 

The machines work by allowing fans to register, showing their ID, and preload a card with either $10 or $20 which can then be scanned to allow fans to choose and pour one of four beers.

Bud and Bud Light will cost 38 cents per ounce, while Shock Top Lemon Shandy and Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale will cost 40 cents per ounce.

Jerry Jacobs Jr., principal of Delaware North, said: “It’s a way to engage with the customer and allows the fan to have greater control of what they’re drinking.”

Adding: “There’s obviously some novelty value to this, but it also allows people to pour what they want. If they want half of a cup, that’s all they will pay for.”

An employee is stationed at each DraftServ to prevent underage drinking with a check ID policy for anyone who looks younger than 30, and to prevent continued drinking by already inebriated fans.