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August 20, 2008 9:30 PM
by Sachi Izumi
TOKYO - He can pull a pint faster than you can shout for one, and there's no chance he's going to be distracted by the cute girl behind you in the queue: meet Mr Asahi, the robot bartender.
Japan's top beer maker Asahi Breweries, known for its "Super Dry," is deploying the life-size Mr Asahi to bars and clubs to pull pints, open beer bottles and pour them to customers - quickly.
He can serve customers, with a smile, in less than two
minutes, saving the average customer 13 minutes at a busy bar, the company said.
"He'll be a great asset to the Asahi team," said Asahi UK
Brand Manager Christian Hamilton. Mr Asahi is
currently on a two-month tour around Britain.
"We were looking for a unique way to sample our beer as we
go on our first national tour and we think that Mr Asahi will
certainly attract a great deal of attention in bars, clubs and
grocers," Hamilton added.
Mr Asahi, who weighs quarter of a tonne, works behind a
specially designed bar and can politely respond to customers'
questions via an operator-controlled system that includes over
500 vocal effects.
Mr Asahi may also go across the Atlantic to show off his
skills in the United States in the future, the company added.
(Reuters Life!)
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