Taspo cards were created to prevent minors from purchasing cigarettes at vending machines. This event went into full effect in Tokyo, Okinawa and seven other prefectures last Tuesday, bringing all of Japan’s prefectures into the system.

Under the system, people are no longer able to buy cigarettes from vending machines without taspo cards.

The only problem is, there are a lot of people who are not aware of the system. Some put money inside the machine hoping to buy a pack of cigarettes. Of course they will be just wasting their time and money since they have no taspo cards.

The taspo system was first introduced in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures last March, and gradually spread across the nation. However, since people have to go to the trouble of applying for cards, providing photographs and identification, the system is still largely unused.