The Number Of Unmanned E-cigarette Stores in South Korea Has Quadrupled in Half A Year; Experts Call For Strengthening Adult Certification

The number of unmanned e-cigarette stores in South Korea has quadrupled in half a year; experts call for strengthening adult certification

The number of unmanned e-cigarette stores in South Korea will increase to 44 within half a year, and the adult authentication and certification procedures of some stores have become lax, making it easy for teenagers to buy. Experts call for strengthening supervision and introducing mobile phone number authentication devices. [2Firsts News] According to News1 on September 13, according to a survey conducted by the South Korean government in the first half of this year in April, there were only 11 unmanned e-cigarette stores at that time. However, as of the beginning of this month, the number has soared to 44, a four-fold increase in just about six months. It is reported that with the sharp increase in the number of unmanned stores, the adult authentication procedures of some stores have become lax. Some stores even accept expired ID cards or paper-printed ID cards for adult authentication. These stores mainly sell "electronic cigarettes". Unlike traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarette stores do not need to report to local governments as tobacco retail stores to operate, and various electronic cigarettes with flavors such as fruits and mint are popular among young people.

According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2019 and 2023, about 3 in 10 adolescent smokers (32%) started to contact tobacco through e-cigarettes. In addition, 6 out of 10 teenagers (60.3%) who started using e-cigarettes now mainly smoke traditional cigarettes.

Currently, e-cigarettes are not classified as "ordinary tobacco" in the current law and cannot be fully regulated. At the same time, these products do not need to be accompanied by warning icons or harmful copywriting, nor do they need to pay fees such as tobacco consumption tax.

Experts believe that incorporating e-cigarettes into the current system and levying consumption taxes may effectively reduce the smoking rate among teenagers.

Lee Sung-gyu, director of the Korea Tobacco Control Research and Education Center, said:

"Currently, e-cigarettes come in various forms such as watches, highlighters, car keys, and AirPods, which are difficult for parents to distinguish with the naked eye. If the same regulatory measures as ordinary tobacco are imposed on them as soon as possible, and taxes are levied, the purchase rate of price-sensitive teenagers will drop significantly."

In addition, there is a view that adult authentication devices should be set up at the entrance of unmanned stores. Lee Sung-gyu emphasized: "Adult authentication devices using mobile phone numbers need to be introduced at the entrance of unmanned tobacco stores, and the doors of many unmanned tobacco stores are open."