Dartmouth, N.S., company launches alcohol vending machines
Dartmouth native Corey Yantha has launched SmartServ, a vending machine for beer and ready-made alcoholic drinks.
“We developed some really cool technology that authenticates a person,” said Yantha, who is the founder and CEO Dispension Industries Inc., which employs a team of 10 and they work closely with an engineering firm in Markham, Ont.
The vending machines scan a government ID to ensure the consumer is legal drinking age, then a facial scan compares the picture to the ID to provide a secondary level of authentication.
“And then we complete our purchase,” said Yantha. “And our machine actually cracks the can open for them. We can do a transaction under 45 seconds.”
Yantha hopes to have these machines in place at Scotiabank Centre and other venues in the near future, once they have received government regulatory approval.
In a statement to CTV News Atlantic, the N.S. Alcohol and Gaming Department said, “Further consultations and a regulatory review would be considered before any broader implementation of these machines. It’s important to note that the machines will be required to have dedicated staff to ensure that they are accurate in detecting minors.”
Each machine holds 360 cans. Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia president Andrew Tanner said an innovation like this is potentially good news for the local beer industry.
“I could certainly see it applied at larger venues, or larger areas where you get lots of lineups and you want to move people through little faster,” said Tanner.
SmartServ had a test-run for their vending machines at the MLB All-Star game in Los Angeles in 2022.
“We brought them back and we upgraded a few devices,” Yantha said.
Now, according to Yantha, the vending machine kinks are worked out, and they are ready to be deployed in Nova Scotia.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Moe 'will respond' to CRA, insists Saskatchewan has 'paid in full' amid carbon tax audit
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government 'will respond' to the Canada Revenue Agency when it concludes its audit of the province, but that his position is Saskatchewan doesn't owe Ottawa any money.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.