FAIRFIELD, Maine -- Asking
for a "Kwikie" will likely get your face slapped in most convenience stores,
but the Maine State Lottery wants to put that appellation on its newest scratch
off ticket, the Bangor Daily News
reports. The lottery sent notice to retailers that the new tickets will be
called "Kwikies," pronounced the same as the slang for a quick sexual
encounter.
"I thought that??s going to
be real uncomfortable for my girls behind the register to have guys come in and
say 'Hey, give me a Kwikie,??" said David Welch, owner of Village Market. "[My
cashiers] are very upset about it. A couple of customers hanging around were
really upset."
Gerry Reid, director of
the Maine Bureau Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, said the state is
not trying to connect the two terms. "I fully understand that when someone saw
this word in isolation, they thought, 'Oh, these guys are getting a bit racy,??"
said Reid. "We??re actually doing everything we can possibly do to not lead you
to that place in your mind."
The department tried other
names for the state lotteries scratch tickets before picking Kwikies. "The
benefit of buying this ticket is that it??s quick, easy and fun," said Reid.
"That??s what an instant ticket is."
While "quickie" is used in
different businesses, including some convenience stores, Welch said his female
cashiers are still extremely uncomfortable with the name. "Selling tickets is
great, but it??s the girls behind the counters who have to sell these things,"
he said. "I don??t need them to be emotionally upset. It??s not worth it for what
we make off a ticket."
The name Kwikie hasn??t
been finalized just yet, as the bureau is gathering more public opinion before
officially rolling it out. "It??s not our decision to offend anybody. If we see
that??s where it??s going, we won??t do it," said Reid.