California Bill Would Ban Retailers From Selling Alcohol Through Self-Service Checkouts

A bill under consideration by the California Senate would ban retailers from selling alcohol through self-service checkouts. The bill has already been approved by the state Assembly.

The bill aims to make it more difficult for minors or already-intoxicated customers to purchase alcohol. Supporters say it would also reduce theft. Similar bills have been considered twice before by the California Legislature, the Oakland Tribune reports. In 2009, a similar bill was approved by the Legislature but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill is supported by United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, several police organizations and anti-drug and anti-alcohol groups, the article notes.

Opponents of the bill include the California Grocers Association, which says that self-service checkout stations already have a mechanism that requires a clerk to verify a customer’s age before finalizing alcohol purchases.