UK soft drink maker, Britvic, is installing vending machines which dispense free drinks to those who can prove their intelligence and solve brainteasing questions. Juicy Drench vending machines have touch screens programmed with games that test the customer’s mental agility – the idea being that our brains perform best when hydrated. The tests include simple math, spot the difference and spatial awareness questions. Regardless of the simplicity, knowing the average intelligence of the British public, I doubt too many free drinks will be dispensed. Personally, I think this may the one of the worst ideas to come out of the UK for a while. Firstly, no vending machine is safe from the fists of British teenagers, so vending machines boasting high technology are doomed to almost immediate vandalism. Secondly, if you were desperate for a drink, would you be bothered spending time answering brainteasers, when all you wanted was a can of juice? I don’t think so – even if it were free. And finally, who on earth thought that Juicy Drench would be a good name for Britvic’s latest product? And what connection does the name have with the brain-quiz thing? None at all. Terrible, terrible, terrible. Britvic, you should be ashamed.

The vending machines are being tried out in UK crime hot-spots, including London, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham, this month. Brilliant.
[Wired]