Minor Ordering Alcohol at Restaurant During Christmas Holiday... Parents Protest vs Owner's Defense

Minor Who Entered Restaurant and Ordered Alcohol During Christmas Holiday
"I Admit My Fault, But Two-Month Business Suspension Threatens Livelihood"

A story has emerged about a self-employed business owner who was suspended from operation ahead of the year-end and New Year peak season due to a minor pretending to be an adult and drinking alcohol.

On the 24th, a post titled "I was sued for selling alcohol to minors" was uploaded on the self-employed online community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss). The author, Mr. A, explained, "Business started on the evening of Saturday the 23rd, and two female customers who had made an online reservation were seated," adding, "Their dyed long straight hair reached down to their chest, they were wearing makeup and carrying handbags. They even had shopping bags, so they looked over twenty years old."

He continued, "I never thought to be suspicious and served the alcohol and food they ordered," and admitted, "This was my fault. On Fridays and weekends, I am always nervous about minors coming in, but as time passed and customers came in busily, I think I made a mistake." He explained, "The two customers who ordered alcohol poured and drank it so naturally," and added, "The alcohol and food they ordered amounted to 144,000 won."

On the 11th, an online community post titled "Incheon High School Students' Eat-and-Run" was uploaded. The author revealed a photo of a receipt, stating that two males and four females ordered food and drinks but left without paying. [Photo by Online Community]

The problem arose afterward. After the payment was completed and the two customers left, Mr. A soon received a phone call. The caller was the parents of the customers who had just paid. The parents hurled all kinds of insults over the phone and threatened to sue, and eventually proceeded with the lawsuit. Mr. A stated that he is now facing a police investigation.

Mr. A said, "It is true that I was wrong to provide alcohol to minors," but added, "The suspension of business and fines threaten the livelihoods of me, my employees, and part-time workers." He also expressed, "The students might think it was just a prank that won't be remembered the next day, but thinking about the employees who worked hard in the cold until their feet froze makes me very upset and frustrated," and questioned, "Why is the punishment for harmful alcohol and tobacco for minors only imposed on the sellers? Is there no action against the minor buyers?" He lamented, "I don't know if self-employed business owners who are deceived by a mature appearance and suspended from business for two months are just being told to die."

Fellow self-employed business owners sympathized with the story, saying, "The parents are the same. Why take it out on the innocent?" and "These days, minors don't even look like students." However, some pointed out that since the author apparently did not check IDs, it would be difficult to avoid responsibility. One self-employed person commented on the post, "If you were deceived by a forged ID, that’s one thing, but if you didn’t check IDs from the start, there is no way to be relieved. Regardless of age, you must always check IDs."

Another netizen shared a story, "I have seen cases where minors forged resident registration cards, drank alcohol, and voluntarily reported themselves to 112 when paying. Those kids went around five nearby stores, but the kids were not punished, and the owner who was suspended had to close the store." In fact, it is not uncommon for minors with forged IDs to drink and then voluntarily report themselves to the police, but even in such cases, the business owner finds it difficult to avoid responsibility.

Claims that minors who drink alcohol should also be punished have been raised previously

Cases of selling alcohol to minors after being deceived by them are continuously being reported. [Photo by Online Community]

Stories of being caught selling alcohol to minors who deceived sellers continue to surface and stir up online discussions. Stories of self-employed business owners being suspended for selling alcohol to minors who pretended to be adults keep appearing. Most of these stories involve selling alcohol to minors claiming to be adults and then facing suspension, and voices online argue that the current law, which only penalizes the business owner, is unfair.

Article 44 of the Food Sanitation Act prohibits providing alcoholic beverages to minors. Violations result in administrative penalties: 60 days suspension for the first offense, 180 days for the second, and license cancellation for the third. As an exemption, it states that "if the food service business operator is not prosecuted or is given a suspended sentence because they did not know the customer was a minor due to forged or stolen ID, administrative penalties are waived."

Because of these regulations, self-employed business owners have long argued that minors who drink alcohol should also be punished. In some countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, minors who drink alcohol face severe penalties such as fines or imprisonment. During the 20th National Assembly, a revision to the Youth Protection Act was proposed to impose sanctions such as community service or special education for minors who drink alcohol, but it was not passed. As controversy over this regulation continues, the Ministry of Government Legislation is currently preparing measures to reduce or exempt penalties for business owners who trusted forged IDs or were unable to verify identity due to assault or threats, taking into account the situation of self-employed business owners.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.