ID cards for buying cigarettes from vending machines are to be introduced by the Tobacco Institute of Japan and other organizations in 2008. The cards are being called “taspo”, a combination of the words tobacco and passport, and will feature a photo of the holder along with a serial number. With the aim of preventing underage smoking, the card is simply placed into the vending machine as cigarettes are purchased. 21 million of the cards are expected to be produced in order to cover 70% of the smoking population of Japan. The cards will be valid for 10 years and issuing begins in February 2008.

Source: Mainichi

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