More beer vending machine sightings

It seems that my hunch was correct: beer vending machines abound in the small towns where 24 hour liquor stores don't exist or are more difficult to find.

On Friday, walking back to the station, I noticed this vending machine. I would have walked passed it without noticing all the beer, but for the bicycle I nearly tripped over. That bicycle can be seen here in the photo.

Beside this machine was 3 vending machines selling cigarettes. You can see the first two machines which are pictured to the right. If you look closely, you can see that you have to be over 20 to buy the cigarettes. See the TASPO signs with a hand hold a card? That's the ID card that you need to apply for to be able to buy cigarettes from these machines. You have to apply for it specifically and it stores your information - specifically that you are indeed old enough to purchase cigarettes. Placing this card on the machine pad will allow you to complete your purchase. If you don't have one of these TASPO cards, you will have to go inside this konbini to buy a pack of smokes. Kind of defeats the purpose of the machines' convenience eh?

But if you are under 20 and still want to cause trouble without a TASPO card, you can still buy a beer from the first vending machine. See? Everybody's happy.

Around the corner, to the left of this machine are more vending machines. I didn't bother to take a photo. They sold juice, pop, water, tea, and coffee.