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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Machines Join Japanese Anti-Smoking Effort

Face-scanning system could help ensure buyers are of age

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(Newser) – New face-scanning software may help Japanese vending machines decide who can buy cigarettes and who can't, Reuters reports. The system would look for wrinkles and saggy skin to identify customers over the legal smoking age of 20. As of July, vendors are on the hook for checking ID, and the new technology  may stop teen smokers from using friends' proof of age.

"With face recognition, so long as you've got some change and you are an adult, you can buy cigarettes like before," says a rep for the manufacturer.

A new technology would scan for wrinkles and facial structure to determine whether a vending-machine customer is old enough to buy cigarettes.
A new technology would scan for wrinkles and facial structure to determine whether a vending-machine customer is old enough to buy cigarettes.   ((c) matsuyuki)
Officials hope that the new face-scanning technology could prevent kids from buying cigarettes using fake IDs.
Officials hope that the new face-scanning technology could prevent kids from buying cigarettes using fake IDs.   ((c) Khun Flo)
A man buys cigarette from an automatic vending machine in Wajima, northern Japan, Tuesday, March 27, 2007. The government is seeking ways to ensure vending-machine customers are of legal age.
A man buys cigarette from an automatic vending machine in Wajima, northern Japan, Tuesday, March 27, 2007. The government is seeking ways to ensure vending-machine customers are of legal age.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Japan • cigarettes • wrinkles • aging • vending machine • facial recognition technology • teen smoking

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