IC cards to stop minors smoking

The tobacco industry will introduce in Japan a system aimed at preventing minors from smoking with the help of micro chip-imbedded cards. 620,000 tobacco vending machines will be switched during 2008 to types that can read integrated circuit cards carried by those aged 20 or older.

Smokers would need to carry the IC cards, with the new vending machines reading them through a sensor. They would apply for the cards free of charge by sending an application form to offices managing the system along with an ID document.

Via Japan Today. Image from the Smoking Manners campaign.