When a major disaster strikes, it’s a real problem if you don’t have anything to drink.
Apparently, there are Coca-Cola vending machines that make drinks free during large-scale disasters. Did you know about them?
We went to the Nishinomiya City Comprehensive Disaster Drill held on November 5.
And what we saw there was!!
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan’s “Disaster Support Vending Machine” (this is a demo machine)
Mama looks like she’s doing some kind of shadow puppet thing, but let’s just ignore that and move on.
What Is a “Disaster Support Vending Machine”?
It’s a vending machine that can be switched remotely or manually so that its drinks are dispensed for free. It also comes with a generator unit, so turning the handle makes it possible to supply power.
What a kind vending machine!!
During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, many people who were unable to get home apparently used these disaster support vending machines.
It also has an electronic display board, which can be operated remotely to show disaster information.
During normal times, it seems to display current news.
Vending machines are installed all over the place, so if a disaster happens while you’re out and your phone won’t connect, being able to get information from a vending machine would be a little reassuring.
Main Installation Locations
According to Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan’s website, these machines are installed in places such as school gymnasiums, public facilities, and hospitals in areas designated as evacuation sites.
Finally
We tried pressing a button on this demo machine.
Sure enough, water came out without putting in any money.
Just knowing there are kind vending machines like this in an emergency is reassuring!!
We haven’t really checked vending machines with this in mind before, so Nishi2 plans to go looking for vending machines that become free during disasters! We’ll update this article whenever we find one.
