Apr 16 2008Japanese Cigarette Machine Asks For Your ID
You have to be 20 to smoke in Japan, but that hasn't stopped those younger than that from buying cigarettes (but not pot or other meds) from machines (which, unlike awesome robots, can't discern age). So now the Tobacco Institute of Japan has started rolling out machines that will only work after a "tobacco passport" age-verification card is swiped. What prevents Japanese schoolgirls from getting somebody else's card is very little, so I wonder how effective these will be. But what do I know? Did you say jack shit? Then you are absolutely correct, knew him in college. Well, his birth name is Jackamo Crapatonian, that was just a clever nickname we came up with.
Japanese Schoolgirl Watch: Tobacco Vending Machines Block Underage Smokers [wired]
Thanks to Melissa, who doesn't need an ID because everyone knows her, for the tip
Reader Comments
1. K - April 16, 2008 12:47 PM
There is a similar system in Germany already in place since quite some time. You can use credit/debit card or your driver's licence to verify your age. And there is not a single machine in Germany which does not require age verification.
2. Glicky - April 16, 2008 1:16 PM
Really, not even the jew burners? That seems a little careless.
3. Scott - April 16, 2008 1:29 PM
I wonder if you could apply this technology to the explosives vending machines so terrorists would have use ID's? They could capture Osama that way....Oh wait, someone is telling me that he sends a junior terrorist for that. Although one time he sent an underling to the nitro machine and the guy thought he said snickers. When the lackey returned with only the candy Osama shot him in the head. However, he couldn't resist the carmelly, peanutty snickers bar and consumed it. Osama then remarked that it was so good he wished he hadn't shot the poor man as he would have sent him for another one. We laughed and laughed!
4. do1t - April 16, 2008 2:51 PM
Hmmm sounds like RFID tags in the licenses. Not too sure I would want that. Think about being in a crowded bar with someone walking around with an RFID scanner. Since the Tags are passive, they activate pass on their info and Boom, bad guys got your shaffizle.
http://do1t.net
5. zxcv - April 16, 2008 3:03 PM
boring.
6. gilbo666 - April 17, 2008 3:36 AM
Same thing here in Italy since last year ;-)
7. Paul - April 17, 2008 11:09 AM
Sad to see they are forcing the companies to spend this money. Until recently, Japan has been content to depend upon parents to regulate their children's behavior, and until very recently it's been working very well. It would seem that no country on earth is free of the litigious spirit that pervades like a virus. My kid smokes! I blame the company with the most money associated with the cigarettes! Give me money! The vending machine did not check his ID! It's the tobacco company's fault that my kid smokes because the machine did not ask him how old he is.
socialism + entitlement attitude = victim state where everyone sues the richest guy in the room.
8. SmokingGirl - April 17, 2008 11:42 AM
*applauds* Here, here, Paul. I applaud you.
9. SiL - April 18, 2008 8:10 AM
In Italy we got the same kind of machines. but we did not ave any tobacco card, it works with sanitary card and the fiscal code card...
10. quinnny - July 5, 2008 10:13 PM
thats bullshit and sad...i was getting my hopes up to go to japan and be able to purchase my smokes whenever i feel like it :-(