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 where drinks become free during large-scale disasters. Did you know that?
We went to the Nishinomiya City Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Drill held on November 5.
And what we saw there was!!
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan’s “Disaster Support Vending Machine” (this is a demo unit)
Mama is doing something that looks like shadow puppetry, but let’s just ignore that and move on.
What is a “Disaster Support Vending Machine”?
This is a vending machine that can switch to free drink distribution by remote control or manually. It also has 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 return home apparently used these disaster support vending machines.
It also has an electronic display board, and disaster information can be shown remotely.
Under normal circumstances, it seems to display current news.
Vending machines are installed just about everywhere, 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, they seem to be installed in places such as school gymnasiums designated as evacuation sites, public facilities, and hospitals.
Finally
We tried pressing a button on this demo unit.
Even without putting in any money, water came out just fine.
Just knowing that such a kind vending machine exists in an emergency is reassuring!!
Until now, we hadn’t really checked vending machines with this in mind, so Nishi2 is going to look for vending machines that become free during disasters! We’ll update this article as soon as we find any.
