Official News page 6

REAL LIFE NEWS: THE SELF-SERVICE PUB

by Hazed

A bar in Georgia called the Cheeky Bar has come up with a self-service "wall of beer" where the customers can just help themselves to a drink by waving a card.

The card contains an RFID tag which identifies the buyer, and the system measures the amount of alcohol poured. Not only that, but it requires the drinkers to prove they aren't too drunk every so often, just like a human barman would.

Customers can select which beer they want, and pour as much - or as little - as they fancy, allowing them to try a small glass of something different. All the costs are totted up to be paid at the end of the evening.

The bar has discovered that the users often pour themselves smaller drinks, to avoid the lager going flat or getting too warm, but that in total they end up drinking more. That means more income, and added to the fact that wages don't have to be paid for barstaff, it sounds like a money-spinner.

Of course, it ruins the cliché of being able to pour out your troubles to the barman as he pours you out a drink!

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/02/self_service_pub/

Fed2 Star index Previous issues Fed 2 home page