Anyone who’s ever been to a professional sporting event knows that heart- and wallet-breaking feeling you get when it’s time for a beer. Not only are they typically super expensive, but it’s always 16-24 ounces or bust. There’s no such thing as having “one beer” in the classic, 12-ounce sense of the word.
Anheuser Busch and Delaware North plan to change that with DraftServ, a new self-serve beer machine making its debut at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.
Here’s how it works: fans at Twins games go to a cash register and load $10 or $20 onto a card. When they’re ready for a beer, they approach the machine to choose not only the kind of beer they want, but the size they want as well. They’re charged by the ounce.
Bud and Bud Light will cost $0.38 per ounce, while Shock Top Lemon Shandy and Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale will cost $0.40 per ounce. Check out the chart below to see how those prices break down.
This is an example breakdown. DraftServ allows any serving in one-ounce increments.
Not bad, right? I don’t think so. Here’s my main enthusiasm about this system: at many stadiums, arenas, and parks, the beer concessions system encourages fans to purchase the largest size in order to get the most “bang for their buck.” DraftServ leaves it all up to you – you pay for what you get.
Now, what about underage drinking? Covered. Staff will be present at both the cash registers and machines, IDing attendees who appear under the age of 30. The machine allows customers to pour up to 48 ounces of beer every 15 minutes. That’s surely enough to get drunk fairly fast, but staff will use discretion in stopping service to anyone who seems inebriated. Plus, they have to account for people buying rounds, so I think that’s a good number.
DraftServ is now live at Target Field, so Twins fans and anyone attending the All-Star game will be able to give it a go. What do you guys think? Is this something you’d like to see at your stadium, park, or arena? What about the corner bar? Hit us up in the comments and let us know.
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