Electronic age checks planned to prevent cigarette sales to under-18s

An electronic age-verification system is being planned to prevent cigarette sales to people under 18. Options being considered for the system include QR codes, verification through chip-enabled identity cards and integration with cash registers.

Under the proposed model, an age check would take place before a sale is completed. The aim is to prevent a transaction from being finalized without age verification, making the check a condition for completing the sale.

QR codes, chip-enabled identity cards and cash-register integration are among the methods being considered for carrying out the check during a transaction. The plan centers on adding electronic verification to the sales process as a way to prevent cigarette sales to people under 18.