Retail

Self-service alcohol sales run into regulatory issues at Moda Stadium in Portland

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March 8, 2024

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission is looking into potential issues surrounding self-service kiosk sales of alcohol at the Moda Center in Portland, managed by Levy Restaurants, the food, beverage and retail partner for the center. The center first utilized Amazon's Just Walk Out technology to allow customers to purchase alcohol from a kiosk and then walk out, but the OLCC does not allow self-service alcohol sales, according to a report by Portland Mercury.

In response, the OLCC, "has been working with Levy Restaurants to bring them into compliance," according to Matt Van Sickle, public information officer.

Levy Restaurants began putting standards in place such as checking IDs or opening cans and bottles for guests prior to leaving the market; however, employees have said this has caused problems with customers.

"Customers don't want to comply [with the checkout process], they resist, they don't want our dirty hands on their beer," an unnamed employee said. "But the OLCC rule is there's no self-service — and the law states that it's on us, we're licensed OLCC servers."

The employee claimed that Levy was unaware of the self-service alcohol law in Oregon and it hasn't provided the right support to help employees enforce rules, especially during crowded events.

The employee also alleged that management has threated to retaliate against those who complained about the issue.

Van Sickle said that the OLCC plans to check up on the stadium in the coming months.