Cigarette machine

A cigarette machine is a vending machine that dispenses packs of cigarettes in exchange for payment. Many modern cigarette machines require customers to swipe an identification card to prevent persons under the legal smoking age from purchasing tobacco. Because of their potential for misuse by underage persons, many jurisdictions restrict where cigarette machines can be located or prohibit them altogether.

Bans and restrictions

In order to limit the 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.^[2] 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]

Regulatory status by country

German cigarette machine (with age verification)

Country/Territory	Situation regarding cigarette vending machines
Australien	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).
Österreich	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must attempt to verify a customer's age by requiring the insertion of a debit card or mobile phone verification.
Belgien	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines need to be locked/unlocked by a responsible adult.
Bulgarien	Banned
Kanada	Regulations vary by province. Either banned outright or restricted to licensed facilities restricting admission to those above the age of majority.
Kroatien	Banned
Zypern	Banned
Tschechische Republik	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines situated in bars and similar places only.
Dänemark	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines generally situated in restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies. Age verification monitored by staff.
Estland	Banned
Finnland	Banned
Frankreich	Banned
Georgien	Banned
Deutschland	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.
Griechenland	Banned
Guernsey	A ban was approved on 1 July 2010, following an amendment to the existing tobacco advertising law. A full ban never took effect, but a 2013 law prohibits vending machines for sale of tobacco products in public areas.^[3]
Ungarn	Banned
Island	Banned
Irland	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	Banned
Italien	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must contain an electronic device to verify age of buyer.
Lettland	Banned
Litauen	Banned
Luxemburg	Sales prohibited under 18. 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 18.
Niederlande	Banned
Neuseeland	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines situated in bars and similar places only. From 10 December 2004, machines can only be operated by staff.
Norwegen	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines are token operated.
Polen	Banned
Portugal	Sales prohibited under 18. Machines must contain an electronic device to verify age of buyer.
Rumänien	Banned
Slowakei	Banned
Slowenien	Banned
Spanien	Sales prohibited under 18. Must display health warnings and require the activation of the machine by the owner or by a special token (the machines can be found on restaurants, bars, gas stations, gaming venues or kiosks). It's strictly forbidden to advertise the sale of tobacco in the facade of any of those places except for specifically tobacco stores.
Singapur	Banned
Schweden	Sales prohibited under 18.
Schweiz	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.).
Thailand	Banned^[4]
Ukraine	Banned
Vereinigtes Königreich	Banned in England since 1 October 2011, Wales since 1 February 2012, Northern Ireland since 1 March 2012, and Scotland since 29 April 2013
Vereinigte Staaten	Only in facilities where people under 18 are not allowed^[5]^[6] ^{[obsolete source]}