Briefly: Cigarette ID cards a boon to stores

Convenience store chains are expecting to reap rewards following the start of tighter restrictions on cigarette vending machines.

Following the introduction of taspo IC cards, aimed at preventing minors from buying cigarettes from vending machines, smokers are expected to head to convenience stores to stock up.

The Tobacco Institute of Japan introduced the age-verification system in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in March, ahead of the nationwide start in July.

Smokers must use the cards when they buy from machines, excluding machines that can scan their driver's license.

According to Lawson Inc., cigarette sales at its outlets in the two prefectures increased by 60 percent in March from a year earlier.(IHT/Asahi: April 30,2008)