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Workers, venues and lawmakers spar over ‘grab‑and‑go’ self‑checkout alcohol at large venues
Summary
Union workers, venue operators and legislators debated House Bill 325/Senate 225, which would restrict self‑service alcohol kiosks at stadiums and arenas. Workers said kiosks enable underage sales and overserving; venue operators said supervised self‑checkout increases speed and is monitored by multiple staff and regulators.
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard hour‑long testimony on House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225, legislation that would prohibit unsupervised or ‘‘grab‑and‑go’’ self‑checkout alcohol sales at large venues and require that an employee of the liquor licensee serve every alcoholic beverage.
The issue drew extensive testimony from venue workers and unions, venue operators and public officials. Unionized concession workers described frequent examples they say show the kiosks weaken enforcement of age and intoxication checks. Management from the Boston Red Sox, Aramark, TD Garden and Gillette Stadium said their supervised self‑checkout systems include staff oversight, third‑party security, and regulatory cooperation, and that the technology has substantially reduced wait times for fans.
Union and worker testimony focused on safety and enforceability. Carlos Aramayo, president of…
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