Cigarette machine

A cigarette vending machine in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

A cigarette machine from the late 1980s or early 1990s, seen in 2008.

A cigarette machine is a vending machine that takes cash in payment for packets 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, in Japan machine companies could be prosecuted if tobacco is sold to anyone under 20 years old. To avoid such legal prosecution, 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. 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.

Bans and restrictions in Europe

Country/Territory	Situation regarding cigarette vending machines
Austria	No specific legislation banning vending machines. But sales to under 16s are prohibited
Belgium	Sales prohibited to under 16s. Machines need to be locked/unlocked by a responsible adult
Cyprus	Banned
Czech Republic	Machines restricted to over 18s and situated in bars and similar places only
Denmark	Sales prohibited to under 18s. Machines generally situated in restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies. Age verification monitored by staff
England	Ban came into force on 1 October 2011
Estonia	Banned
Finland	Due to be banned on 1 January 2015
France	Banned
Georgia	Banned
Germany	Machines contain an electronic device for controlling the age of buyers (no sales to under 18s)
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	Restricted to licensed premises only since 1 July 2009. Vending machines are operated by a token or card obtained from the bar once the buyer has been identified as being over 18
Italy	Sales to under 16s prohibited
Luxembourg	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 to under 18s
Netherlands	Token issued at counter once the purchasers age has been verified
Northern Ireland	Ban due to come into force on 1 February 2012
Norway	Token operated, sales banned to under 18s
Poland	Banned
Portugal	Sales prohibited to under 18s
Romania	Banned
Slovakia	Banned
Slovenia	Banned
Spain	No sales to under 18s
Scotland	The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 introduced the ban on cigarette sales from vending machines. The date of implementation is expected to be April 2015.
Sweden	No sales to under 18s
Switzerland	Machines are banned in 17 out of 26 cantons. Sales are restricted in other cantons to either under 16s or under 18s
Ukraine	Banned
Wales	Ban came into force on 1 February 2012

See also

• Clark Whittington, creator of the Art-o-mat, a project to convert disused cigarette machines into art vending machines
• Taspo, a Japanese system for age verification at cigarette machines
• Action on Smoking and Health, Cigarette vending machines

External links

• Bundesverband Deutscher Tabakwaren-Großhändler und Automatenaufsteller (German)
• Kunstprojekt: Alle Zigarettenautomaten in Biberach/Riß (German)