It is possible to drive from Pittsburgh to Cleveland by first traveling south to Wheeling, W.Va., west to Columbus and then eventually approach the city on the lake from the west, a trip of 317 miles that takes 51/2 hours. But why would anyone do that when there's a direct route north that covers just 133 miles and takes little more than two hours?

The state Liquor Control Board's latest proposal for selling wine in supermarkets is similarly absurd.

Part of the plan calls for installing large vending machines to dispense bottles of wine in 100 supermarkets across the state. These would not be ordinary vending machines. No, these high-tech devices supposedly would prevent sales to underage buyers and customers who already are drunk. (Never mind how easy it would be for a friend or passerby to assist the determined customer.)

Here's how the "wine kiosks" work: Prospective buyers first must insert their driver's licenses to prove they are at least 21 years old. Next they would have to breathe into a testing device to measure the amount of alcohol in the breath.

As far as the LCB knows, no other states use these automated dispensers, an invention that seems to have sprung from the mind of Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist who drew intricate, indirect and convoluted devices designed to perform simple tasks.

Selling beer, wine and liquor does not have to be as complicated as Pennsylvania has made it already. But that's the specialty of the LCB, the monopoly that regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages in this state.

These laughable machines, along with plans to install tiny wine boutiques in fancy grocery stories, are part of the LCB's attempt to become more customer friendly.

That's a good goal, but there is an easier way. Dismantle the antiquated liquor control system and let private enterprise start running the sale of alcoholic drinks as a business.