In Some States Fast Food Chains To Serve Alcohol

(NewsCore) - A number of fast food chains are adding alcoholic drinks to their menus in an attempt to boost business, USA Today reported Friday.

Burger King recently opened "Whopper Bars" that sell beer in Miami, Las Vegas, and Kansas City. Sonic plans to introduce beer and wine at two of its restaurants in South Florida, the report said.

Starbucks also recently began selling beer and wine at four of its Seattle coffee shops.

According to Ron Paul, president of restaurant consulting firm Technomic, selling alcohol is a great way for fast food chains to compete with casual dining.

"For consumers, it's basically about having it your way -- even if it's having a beer with your burger," he said.
However, critics believe that alcohol sales will send the wrong message to the restaurants' patrons, who are often young people.

"Fast food plus fast alcohol equals fast drunks," said Michele Simon, research and policy director at the Marin Institute, an alcohol-industry watchdog group.

Dean of Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration, Christopher Muller, agreed. "You don't want someone downing a quick beer, then getting into their cars and driving off. It's a delicate balance of risk and reward," he told USA Today.

The Burger King "Whopper Bars" sell beer for $4.25. Sonic's Miami location will offer three types of draft beer, 25 kinds of bottled beer, and 10 kinds of wine in the restaurant, but not to patrons in their cars.

Source;  http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpps/money/burger-king-sonic-and-other-fast-food-chains-to-serve-alcohol-dpgonc-20110701-to_13941819