Since 2007, however, age verification has been mandatory in Germany and Italy – buyers must be 18 or over. The various machines installed in pubs and cafés, other publicly accessible buildings, and on the street accept one or more of the following as proof of age: the buyer's identity card, bank debit card (smart card), or European Union driver's license. In Japan, age verification has been mandatory since 1 July 2008 via the [[Taspo]] card, issued only to persons aged 20 or over. The Taspo card uses RFID, stores monetary value, and is contactless.
The cotton candy vending machine is a vending machine that dispenses freshly spun [[cotton candy]], usually in the form of a flower or heart. The history of cotton candy goes back to 1897, when it was first spun by a dentist named William Morrison.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who invented cotton candy? |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206121138/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1738/who-invented-cotton-candy |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2024}}</ref> Then in 1904, Albert D. Robinson of [[Lynn, Massachusetts]] submitted his patent for an electric candy-spinning machine. With that, the world of cotton candy remained relatively quiet for the next century - until recently, where automated cotton candy vending machines struct interest with entrepreneurs looking for passive income streams.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breen |first=Amanda |date=March 4, 2024 |title=He 'Accidentally Discovered' a Semi-Passive Side Hustle in College — Now He's on Track to Make More Than $500,000 This Year |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/entrepreneurs/semi-passive-income-side-hustle-on-track-for-500k-in-2024/470596 |website=Entrepreneur}}</ref.><ref>{{cite Sincenews then,|last1=Painter |first1=Alysia Gray |title=Chicken sandwiches with berry cereal are just the automatedstart: machinesLA haveCounty beenFair's spottedfood regularlyline-up atis here [[Bareilly|malls]],url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/the-scene/chicken-sandwiches-with-berry-cereal-are-just-the-start-la-county-fairs-food-line-up-is-here/3396899/ [[Amusement park|amusementwork=NBC parks]],Los andAngeles [[Theatre|theaters]].date=26 April 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Condom vending machine in Tokyo area - 2022 May 16.jpeg|thumb|Condom vending machine in [[Tokyo]], 2022]]
