Should Michigan Allow Self-Serve Alcohol? [Video/Poll]

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has proposed allowing self-serve wine and beer dispensers in Michigan.

At least 37 other states currently allow self-serve alcohol.

Should Michigan join them?

In 2012, MGM Casino in Detroit was denied permission to have self-serve tabletop alcohol dispensing devices at one of their restaurants.

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has reconsidered their previous ruling, while still acknowledging that their proposal raises concerns for opponents.

Michigan Liquor Control Commission Chairman Andrew Deloney says: “We feel it is something folks in the industry would want to have available, but at the same time we recognize the issue of public health.”

The current proposal would allow for wine and beer to be dispensed, but not liquor.

Monique Stanton, president and CEO of CARE of Southeastern Michigan tells the Detroit News, "In general, there is increased risk for underage drinking and overserving. I see these dispensing machines as an opportunity to increase binge drinking, rather than decrease it."

How do self-serve beer and wine dispensers work?

1. Customers check their ID with a staff member and then are issued a card which may be pre-loaded with a dollar amount or used to run a tab with a credit card.
2. A staff member sets a limit on how many drinks may be order with the card, regardless of dollar amount, before the card must be reloaded.
3. Customer scans the card at the tap when they are ready for a drink, then pours their own drink.
4. Once the drink limit has been reached, the customer must get a staff member to reload card before they can pour more drinks.

There are a number of potential problems which could arise with self-serve beer and wine, although none of them seem unique to self-serve systems.

Sharing of drinks with minors and over-serving of customers are concerns, but with proper oversight and low numbers of pre-loaded drinks, there's no reason the risk needs to be any greater with self-serve systems than without.

Would pouring your own drinks be more fun? Maybe the first time, after that it seems that it would be a less social way to enjoy a night out.

It reminds me of a self-serve grocery store checkout. Occasionally it's a nice option, but many times it's an annoyance.

It may be nice at times to not have to wait for a drink if it's busy or if you have a less-than-attentive waitstaff, but ultimately the lack of interaction with staff may lessen the enjoyment of the customer and eventually lessen their loyalty to the business.

At times and places when quick service is a must, such as an airport, self-serve systems may be good for both customers and businesses. At many other locations an old fashioned hand-delivered drink may be the best option.