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For those who need wine when shops are shut, Cochem, Germany has the answer.
The machine also vends glasses, bottle openers and snacks
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Every below-the-legal-age-to-buy-alcohol drinkers dream!
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Never been more proud to be German - how brilliant! But does it work like a normal vending machine - the product plonks into the tray below? Bit risky?!
Of course, in Germany there are cigarette vending machines on every corner - or there were when I was a child there (a while ago!) - so the whole age restriction thing is not really, well, a thing there. And the legal age for wine and beer is 16 anyhow.
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I was wondering what the age limit was. Apparently over 18 if > 1.2% ABV.)
Belgium, Denmark and Germany set 16 years as the minimum age for purchasing beverages containing less than 1.2 % of distilled alcohol and 18 years for buying spirits (more than 1.2 % of distilled alcohol)
I have always thought beer or wine vending machines would be good for pubs/bars during extremely busy events (six nations / football etc) where demand can be 6 people deep at the bar
In this country theyād be looted in no time!
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If i remember correctly you have to scan your ID prior to it accepting payment.
Of course, āborrowingā ID never happensā¦
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Naturally in Germany there is an engineered solution (though the machines arenāt necessarily German). Either the (padded) collecting tray or a separate collecting gadget rises to the appropriate shelf to collect the item, then lowers to the collection level. Thatās why you only DrĆ¼cken Nach dem CLICK
I recall reading that the machines can have some sort of ID check for age, perhaps based on bank cards or health cards, but Iām sure any self-respecting teenager would know how to circumvent such minor obstaclesā¦
More to the point, @peterm, did it contain any half decent wines?
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āAu contraireā, as they say in Germany. The English language instructions on the machine says āMinimum age for buying wine is 16. Swipe ID card or driverās licence as shown till beeping to verify your ageā.
Very law abiding people, the Germans.
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No, they were all German whites with exception of one German Pinot and one pink.
No Pinotage or other decent redsā¦
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Well, it is on the banks of the Mosel, so Pinotage might be a reach. I could be tempted by a cheeky SpƤtburgunder.
Thinking of installing one in the house, reckon I could make a tidy income out of Mrs Smithā¦
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Pinotage is grown and made in Germany. Iād have to check exactly where.
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Somewhere near the Nurburgring, possibly.
Could one not use oneās wine rack instead?
Not sure you need the āotherā in thereā¦ 
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For all your late night Wurst (and smoked meat) needs. The bottles (bottom shelf) are BBQ sauces - of course.
Spotted whilst in the Luneberg Heath last summer - sorry about the image-cropping (grrrr i-phone) because the vending machine bothy is thatched with heather. Now if only there was a late night wine bottle vending optionā¦
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A bit like the classic āsend your old-looking mate into the off licenceā trick but with a need for some who actually is older.
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Reminds me of the classic Japanese kids leveraging Bruce Willis to trick age verifying cigarette vending machines. .
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