A London nightclub's biometric velvet rope

When we hear about London nightclubs stateside, it is often because Prince Harry was spotted dancing on a table in a sarong or because some flashy playboy racked up a ridiculous tab. This time, however, it is a bit different. The Camden Town boite Koko has introduced a new high-tech system to keep tabs on partygoers who leave the club for smoke breaks. Upon leaving the establishment, their fingerprints are scanned; they are then allowed seven minutes to enjoy their cigs, and then afterward must re-enter by re-scanning. C|Net News’ Caroline McCarthy writes that she is not a smoker, but that she is familiar with the need to briefly leave a noisy nightclub in order to make a cell phone call and then attempt to regain access without waiting in line all over again, so she thinks fingerprint scanners show promise. Some Londoners think it is a tad “unnecessarily draconian,” but if it replaces those impossible-to-wash-off hand stamps, she will take it.