Half of Liquid E-Cigarette Stores Do Not Display 'No Entry Under 19' Signage

The Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit investigated electronic cigarette stores in the province and found that about half of them did not display signs prohibiting entry to those under 19 years of age.

Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police announced on the 25th that from February 12 to 28, they inspected 193 liquid-type electronic cigarette stores, which are not classified as regular cigarettes under current law and thus fall into a regulatory blind spot. They confirmed that about half, 93 stores, did not display the "No entry for those under 19" sign. One unmanned store was found to be operating without an "adult verification device."

Although liquid-type electronic cigarettes have been designated as harmful products to youth by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family since 2011, electronic cigarette stores are not classified as harmful establishments, allowing free access to youth. Furthermore, the amendment of the Tobacco Business Act to classify electronic cigarettes as regular cigarettes has been delayed, leaving youth unprotected and exposed.

Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit's on-site inspection of electronic cigarette stores revealed that about half did not display signs prohibiting entry to those under 19 years old. Provided by Gyeonggi-do

Accordingly, Gyeonggi-do checked electronic cigarette stores for ▲ violations of identity verification ▲ sales of electronic cigarettes to youth ▲ insufficient youth access restrictions ▲ and whether sales prohibition notices were displayed, to promote healthy growth and a safe educational environment for youth.

The current "Youth Protection Act" requires business owners and employees selling alcohol and tobacco to display notices prohibiting sales to youth under 19 in visible places inside stores or on the front of tobacco vending machines. However, since liquid-type electronic cigarettes are not classified as regular cigarettes under current law, this regulation does not apply. Therefore, the Special Judicial Police recommended that electronic cigarette stores post and improve youth entry prohibition notices.

Furthermore, to protect youth from indiscriminate exposure to electronic cigarettes and to ensure they grow up healthily in a safe environment, they strongly urged the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to designate electronic cigarette stores as harmful establishments to youth through official notification.

Gi Do, head of the Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "This on-site inspection was proactively conducted for the health of growing youth," and added, "At the Gyeonggi-do level, we will actively respond through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to prevent youth from entering electronic cigarette stores."

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