Vendo (activity)

A vendo is the slang name given to the activity of standing around a beer vending machine as a group and drinking. Due to the proliferance of alcohol vending machines, and the general acceptance of public drinking in Japan, this is a somewhat popular activity in the warmer months.

Due to the relatively expensive nature of alcoholic drinks at bars in Japan's cities (500 - 800 yen), the cheap price of [vending machine] drinks (250 - 350 yen), the lack of stigma about public drinking, and the novelty value of this activity, it is especially popular with the large community of English teachers who work in Japan, as a way to unwind and socialise after work. Most English-speaking countries have an open container law or much stricter attitudes towards public drinking.