Cigarette machine

A cigarette vending machine in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

A cigarette machine is a vending machine that takes cash in payment for packs of cigarettes. Vending machines often dispense packs containing 16 or 18 cigarettes, although the dimensions of the packaging are the same as the equivalent pack containing 20.

Bans and restrictions

In order to aid the restriction of sale of tobacco to minors, cigarette machines are regulated in many countries.

Japan

Since July 2008, companies may face prosecution if found selling tobacco to anyone under the legal age, 20 years old.[1] To avoid this, Japan has introduced a government registered electronic smart card, called Taspo, that allows the user to purchase from the machines. To get a Taspo card, the purchaser must present their passport or ID to any government-authorized business offering the service.

As an automated way of determining age, the Fujitaka company is developing a technology that allows the vending machine to determine, using a digital camera and based on the facial wrinkles and sags of the potential buyer, whether the buyer is old enough to purchase cigarettes. The system compares facial characteristics including bone structure, sags, and crow's feet against a record of more than 100,000 people. However, if the user fails they can still use the machine with a Taspo card.[1]

Tobacco vending machine prevalence by country

German cigarette machine (with age verification)
German identity card and European driving licence reading device (Germany)
Country/Territory Situation regarding cigarette vending machines
 Australia Sales prohibited under 18. Can only be located in liquor licensed and gaming venues, must display health warnings and cannot contain images of product (only a description and price on a black and white label).
 Austria Sales prohibited under 16. Machines must attempt to verify a customer's age by requiring the insertion of a debit card or mobile phone verification.
 Belgium Sales prohibited under 16. Machines need to be locked/unlocked by a responsible adult.
 Bulgaria None present
 Croatia Banned
 Cyprus Banned
 Czech Republic Sales prohibited under 18. Machines situated in bars and similar places only.
 Denmark Sales prohibited under 18. Machines generally situated in restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies. Age verification monitored by staff.
 England Ban came into force on 1 October 2011.[2]
 Estonia Banned
 Finland Ban came into force on 1 January 2015.
 France Banned
 Georgia Banned
 Germany Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must provide an age verification (usually: German identity card, European driving licence or Electronic cash-Card). Until 2007 the sale was prohibited to under 16. Since 31. December 2008 all public cigarette machines must have an age verification to prove that the buyer is 18 or over.
 Greece Banned
 Guernsey A ban was approved on 1 July 2010, following an amendment to the existing tobacco advertising law. The exact date of implementation has yet to be decided.
 Hungary Banned in 2006
 Iceland Banned
 Ireland Sales prohibited under 18. Restricted to licensed premises only since 1 July 2009. Vending machines are operated by a token or card obtained from the bar once the age of the buyer has been identified.
 Israel Ban came into force on 1 January 2014
 Italy Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must contain an electronic device to verify age of buyer.
 Latvia Banned
 Lithuania Banned
 Luxembourg Sales prohibited under 16. Age has to be proven at the counter or bar before a token is issued so that the machine can be used.
 Malta Sales prohibited under 16.
 Netherlands Sales prohibited under 18. Token issued at counter once the purchasers age has been verified.
 New Zealand Sales prohibited under 18. Machines situated in bars and similar places only. From 10 December 2004, machines can only be operated by staff.
 Northern Ireland Ban came into force on 1 March 2012
 Norway Sales prohibited under 18. Machines are token operated.
 Poland Banned
 Portugal Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must contain an electronic device to verify age of buyer.
 Romania Banned
 Slovakia Banned
 Slovenia Banned
 Spain Sales prohibited under 18.
 Scotland Ban came into force on 29 April 2013.
 Singapore Banned
 Sweden Sales prohibited under 18.
  Switzerland Sales from machines are age restricted in 21 out of 26 cantons (12 cantons—under 16; nine cantons—under 18; five cantons—no age restriction (although most retailers won't sell to under 16.).
 United States Only in facilities where people under 18 are not allowed; ban came into force on June 22, 2010.[3][4]
 Ukraine Banned
 Wales Ban came into force on 1 February 2012.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Japanese smokers to face age test". BBC News. 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  2. ↑ "Cigarette vending machines banned in England". BBC News. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  3. ↑ "Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescents" (PDF). 19 March 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  4. ↑ Block, Dustin (June 29, 2010). "Cigarette vending machines are now illegal; Federal rule went int[o] effect June 22". Racine Post. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
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