Smokers face age test as vending machines count wrinkles

CIGARETTE vending machines in Japan may soon start counting wrinkles, crow’s feet and skin sags to see if the customer is old enough to smoke.

The legal age for smoking in Japan is 20.

As the country’s 570,000 tobacco vending machines prepare for new regulations coming into effect in July requiring them to ensure buyers are not underage, a company has developed a system to identify age by studying facial features.