State House OKs bill targeting minors' self-checkout booze buys
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - While it has long been illegal to sell alcohol to those under age 21, Washington state has no laws specifically governing the sale of alcohol at self-checkout machines common in many supermarkets.
With reports reaching lawmakers of self-checkout machines being used by underage buyers of alcohol, the Washington state House on Monday unanimously passed a measure to crack down on the practice.
The bill would require self-checkout machines to freeze transactions involving liquor sales until a worker verifies the age of the buyer.
An earlier version of the bill would have banned outright the sale of alcohol through self-checkout machines.
The measure goes next to the Senate.
With reports reaching lawmakers of self-checkout machines being used by underage buyers of alcohol, the Washington state House on Monday unanimously passed a measure to crack down on the practice.
The bill would require self-checkout machines to freeze transactions involving liquor sales until a worker verifies the age of the buyer.
An earlier version of the bill would have banned outright the sale of alcohol through self-checkout machines.
The measure goes next to the Senate.
thanks 4 the idea KOMO party 2 nite!
Well, at least we have learned that our elected representatives in Olympia don't waste their valuable time on research and aren't timid about displaying their ignorance about supermarket liquor sales.Â
Realy?
Our state is billions in debt and this is the best we can do?
Another nonproblem solved by Olympia! Keep up the good work, guys.
Just start selling the booze from a window or locked area inside the store. No more self checkout problems, no more problems with lowlifes taking carts full of alcohol out of the store without paying, none of those things. It seems pretty simple to me.Â
What the hell they already do this. Olympia just wants to waste more money.
@godawgs Maybe they don't in Olympia. That "hidding in plain sight" thing. Honestly it would not surprise me one bit.
Waste of time but our government just has time and money to burn. Â When I was young I would see and hear of underage kids swap out root beer for real beer in 6 packs. Â This law is another feel good law that really has no impact and should be pushed to the side to deal with real important things like fixing our government.
I know at least Safeway does this already. Most places do. Waste of time
I've never seen a supermarket that does not do this already. More wasted time in Olympia.
These guys must not do a lot of shopping since the stores I know that have self check outs already do this. Priorities Sentate. Priorities. Get them together!
This comment has been deleted
spammer.
@The WA Mama Flagged it also
@The WA Mama Second one from this handle. Flagged.
@dome200q Ditto - I flagged as well.
@jekaminsky @komonews This surprises me because the self checkout purchases I've seen stop & require a cashier to verify age.
Oh, WOOPS!! Uh, hey, Jay? That bill that Christine signed? Uh, yeah, I think we might want to re-write that just a bit....
Every store in my area has done this for years.... What's the News???
Too funny! I remember when my local Fred Myers set up their first four self-check stations (and no, I don't use them - I was in retail). First thing â it put three checkers out of jobs, and after the public got used to using them, the one remaining checker seemed to be more concerned about â just about nothing. And âwe the peopleâ voted for this, knowing that self-policing of in-place policies does NOT work past the first look-see by those monitoring these âprogramsââ¦.
@dome200q Having too many lazy, rude, slow, could-care-less checkers in the first place (as in, before the self checkout lines) was a BIG part of the reason why I and many of my friends prefer to use the self check-out if we only have a few items. If I'm going to be treated in a bossy and rude manner, I'd rather an impersonal computer do it than a human being who wants to take out their frustration or personal problems on perfect strangers who have done absolutely NOTHING to them.
@spacegoddess @Glassman
Spent ten years in retail before I had to medically retire. Never forgot that it was because of customers that I had a job, and I appreciated that. Because Iâve also worked a register, when elsewhere would watch others while they did their magic. And occasionally, would have to say there are some that are just sour grapes. Yet must say that even though I quite often donât agree with Glassman, this isnât one of them. You have a lot to do about how folks respond to you.
Enjoy the day.
@spacegoddess Sorry you have such a negative attitude. In truth, I find that checkers generally return the same attitude they receive, so I am betting it is YOU who spawn the hostile attitude.
As for the self-check devices, I always remind the checker that I came to them because I want them to have a job, and that I do not support putting people out of work. They invariably thank me.
@jekaminsky I really don't use the self-checkout...but it never accurred to me that this was going on.
Every store that I've bought alcohol at that has a self checkout already does that. If a store chooses not to do that and an underage customer purchaes alcohol, the store needs to be treated just like any other store that allows sales to underage customers (i.e. fines, lose right to sell alcohol, etc.)
@The WA Mama Thank you, I've never been to a store with self-checkout and NOT seen it freeze the transaction when alcohol is scanned. Heck, they'll freeze if you tell it you're not bagging several items.
@spacegoddess @The WA Mama Exactly, they freeze the darn thing if you don't bag an item right!!
They already do that.Â
Are there stores that don't freeze sales at self-checkouts until IDs have been checked?Â
@Cooter_Brown Apparently only in Olympia :(