What is a vending machine

Newspaper vending machines in the United States, vending machines generally serve the purpose of selling snacks and soda pop, but are also common in busy locations to sell newspapers.

Items sold via vending machine may vary by country. For example, some countries sell alcoholic beverages such as beer through vending machines, while other countries do not allow this (usually because of dram shop laws). Cigarettes were commonly sold in the U.S. through these machines, but this practice is increasingly rare due to concerns about underage buyers. Sometimes a pass has to be inserted in the machine to prove one's age.