- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Watch out barmen, there's a new kid on the block
- Date: 6th July 2008
- Summary: VARIOUS MR ASAHI THE ROBOTIC BARMAN SERVING BEER
- Embargoed: 21st July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA2SGO8CBATM4B3ZXNYZM61RKF
- Story Text: A robotic barman named Mr Asahi made its debut in London on Wednesday, dispensing free samples of lager in the food hall of an upmarket British department store.
"It's the world first robotic barman it has been built specifically for Asahi Beer," said Simon Brewer, a marketing spokesman for the Japanese brewing company at the launch in Selfridges.
"Robotic barmen ... don't have attitude problems, they work a bit quicker, they don't need to eat, they don't need loo breaks, so I think they are perfect," he added.
The life-sized metallic robot, which sports luminous eyes and a broad grin, can open beer bottles and serve pints on command. The company expects to sell it for over 100,000 pounds at the end of its UK tour promoting Asahi beer.
"It's impressive, you get served immediately and it doesn't talk back .... what more could you want?," asked one shopper, after sampling beer served by Mr Asahi.
Other shoppers and staff argued that, while the robot was a good listener, he lacked conversational skills. The skimpily-clad waitress handing out the beer at the launch said she didn't think robots would put human barmen and servers out of jobs any time soon.
"This particular robot doesn't speak back ... we can communicate more, and if there are any queries or complaints we can speak to the customer and deal with them," she said.
Mr Asahi will be serving beer at Selfridges until July 5., when it will move onto the next leg of its UK tour.
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