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自動販売機
日本では町のあちこちで自動販売機を見かけますが、アメリカでは、屋外で自販機を目にすることはあまりありません。その理由としては、自販機を壊して小銭を盗む犯罪が多いことや、未成年へのタバコや酒の販売が固く禁じられていること、地域住民が町の美化に高い関心を持っていることなどが挙げられます。
Vending Machines
By MASAKO YAMADA
During the summer months, the cafeteria in my building is shut down. Some
of the other cafeterias on campus remain open, but even they usually close in
the early afternoon. There are still quite a few students on campus, however,
and they are known to get hungry at strange times. For this reason, the
vending machines on campus seem particularly useful during the summer.
Whenever I go to the vending machine, it seems like there's always somebody
else there.
Ironically, the vending machines in my building are located right next
to the cafeteria. The cafeteria sells similar drinks and snacks (as well as
pastries, salads, soups and sandwiches), so it would seem that when the
cafeteria is open, the vending machines would not be considered so useful.
This is not the case, however: Some people like the convenience of the
machines. Others get hungry after the cafeteria is closed.
Most of the vending machines I've seen in the States are located inside
private buildings, such as schools, tennis clubs and ice-skating rinks. The
machines basically enable these places to serve simple food without hiring
people to handle the money. Vending ma
chines are faster for private customers, but they are not particularly useful
to the general public. I rarely see vending machines outdoors or inside
large public buildings such as bus stations or train stations.
I'm always surprised by the selection of things I see sold in vending machines
in Japan: juices, canned coffee, canned soups, milk, alcohol, cigarettes,
rice. Even more surprising, the vending machines seem to be on every street
corner!!
Undoubtedly, part of the reason this is possible is because petty theft and
vandalism are not as common in Japan as in the States. It's true that there
are quite a few newspaper vending machines on the streets of Boston, but they
are not exactly enticing targets for vandals.
Another problem in the States is related to selling alcohol and
cigarettes to minors. Of course, minors aren't supposed to buy alcohol and
cigarettes in Japan either, but stores in the States are obligated by law not
to provide these products to minors, and many store owners take these laws
seriously. They can be fined, sued or have their licenses suspended if
they don't follow the rules. I remember trying to buy some beer for my parents
when I was very young and being turned away. Even though I'm 25 now, I still
have to show my ID every time I buy alcohol. Given this, it's no big
surprise that alcohol and cigarettes are not sold on the streets.
I think another reason vending machines are not found outdoors is because they
are an eyesore. Many people in the States are very particular about how
their cities look, and there are often strict zoning rules dictating what
can be placed on public property.
I can imagine many people not being happy with large, red Coke machines
outside their doorstep, or with the large number of people likely to
congregate around it. There have also been accidents in which vending
machines have fallen on top of people, and the liability issues arising from
such a case are understandably complex.
Given these drawbacks, it's not too surprising that vending machines
are usually treated carefully and kept indoors. I know that Boston
University maintains the vending machines in my building, since I called an
on-campus hotline
when a bag of potato chips that I'd bought got stuck in the machine.
The man in charge took down the complaint as if it were a police report
("When did this happen?" "What was the code number of the machine?" "What
got stuck?") and then promised to send me a refund. Sure enough, I got a
check for $1 (¥120) from BU a couple of days later.
I was impressed with the professional service. It helped me remember that
there are many complex issues surrounding these personless stores.
During the summer months, the cafeteria in my building is shut down. Some
of the other cafeterias on campus remain open, but even they usually close in
the early afternoon. There are still quite a few students on campus, however,
and they are known to get hungry at strange times. For this reason, the
vending machines on campus seem particularly useful during the summer.
Whenever I go to the vending machine, it seems like there's always somebody
else there.
Ironically, the vending machines in my building are located right next
to the cafeteria. The cafeteria sells similar drinks and snacks (as well as
pastries, salads, soups and sandwiches), so it would seem that when the
cafeteria is open, the vending machines would not be considered so useful.
This is not the case, however: Some people like the convenience of the
machines. Others get hungry after the cafeteria is closed.
Most of the vending machines I've seen in the States are located inside
private buildings, such as schools, tennis clubs and ice-skating rinks. The
machines basically enable these places to serve simple food without hiring
people to handle the money. Vending ma
chines are faster for private customers, but they are not particularly useful
to the general public. I rarely see vending machines outdoors or inside
large public buildings such as bus stations or train stations.
I'm always surprised by the selection of things I see sold in vending machines
in Japan: juices, canned coffee, canned soups, milk, alcohol, cigarettes,
rice. Even more surprising, the vending machines seem to be on every street
corner!!
Undoubtedly, part of the reason this is possible is because petty theft and
vandalism are not as common in Japan as in the States. It's true that there
are quite a few newspaper vending machines on the streets of Boston, but they
are not exactly enticing targets for vandals.
Another problem in the States is related to selling alcohol and
cigarettes to minors. Of course, minors aren't supposed to buy alcohol and
cigarettes in Japan either, but stores in the States are obligated by law not
to provide these products to minors, and many store owners take these laws
seriously. They can be fined, sued or have their licenses suspended if
they don't follow the rules. I remember trying to buy some beer for my parents
when I was very young and being turned away. Even though I'm 25 now, I still
have to show my ID every time I buy alcohol. Given this, it's no big
surprise that alcohol and cigarettes are not sold on the streets.
I think another reason vending machines are not found outdoors is because they
are an eyesore. Many people in the States are very particular about how
their cities look, and there are often strict zoning rules dictating what
can be placed on public property.
I can imagine many people not being happy with large, red Coke machines
outside their doorstep, or with the large number of people likely to
congregate around it. There have also been accidents in which vending
machines have fallen on top of people, and the liability issues arising from
such a case are understandably complex.
Given these drawbacks, it's not too surprising that vending machines
are usually treated carefully and kept indoors. I know that Boston
University maintains the vending machines in my building, since I called an
on-campus hotline
when a bag of potato chips that I'd bought got stuck in the machine.
The man in charge took down the complaint as if it were a police report
("When did this happen?" "What was the code number of the machine?" "What
got stuck?") and then promised to send me a refund. Sure enough, I got a
check for $1 (¥120) from BU a couple of days later.
I was impressed with the professional service. It helped me remember that
there are many complex issues surrounding these personless stores.
Shukan ST: July 30, 1999
(C) All rights reserved
- cafeteria
- カフェテリア、学校の食堂
- is shut down
- 閉鎖される
- they are known to get hungry at strange times
- 彼らは変な時間帯におなかがすくことで知られている
- Ironically
- 皮肉なことに
- are located 〜
- 〜 に設置されている
- pastries
- 菓子パン
- convenience
- 便利さ
- States
- アメリカ合衆国
- ice-skating rinks
- スケート場
- basically
- 基本的に
- 〜 enable these places to serve simple food without hiring people to handle the money
- そういう場所では、 〜 のおかげで、お金を扱う人を雇わずに軽食を出すことができる
- general public
- 一般の人々
- rarely 〜
- めったに 〜 することはない
- canned 〜
- 缶入りの 〜
- street corner
- 町角
- petty theft
- ちょっとした盗み
- vandalism
- 破壊行為
- enticing targets
- 気持ちをそそられる攻撃目標
- vandals
- ものを壊す人
- is related to 〜
- 〜 と関係している
- minors
- 未成年
- 〜 are obligated by law not to 〜
- 〜 は法律によって 〜 しないように義務づけられている
- take 〜 seriously
- 〜 を真剣に受けとめる
- be fined
- 罰金を科せられる
- (be)sued
- 訴えられる
- have their licenses suspended
- (お酒やたばこの)販売の許可を取り消される
- turned away
- 拒否された
- Given this
- このことを考えると
- eyesore
- 目ざわりなもの
- (are)particular about 〜
- 〜 についてやかましい
- strict zoning rules
- 厳しい地域ごとの規則
- dictating
- 指図している
- public property
- 公共の場所
- doorstep
- 玄関
- congregate around 〜
- 〜 の周りに集まる
- liability issues
- 責任問題
- 〜 arising from 〜
- 〜 から浮上する 〜
- drawbacks
- 問題点
- (are)treated
- 扱われる
- on-campus hotline
- 大学内の緊急電話サービス
- got stuck in 〜
- 〜 の中でひっかかった
- 〜 in charge
- 担当の 〜
- took down
- 書き留めた
- complaint
- 苦情
- police report
- 警察の調書
- refund
- 払い戻し
- Sure enough
- はたして、本当に
- surrounding 〜
- 〜 の周りで
- personless
- 無人の