'No Drunk Driving' Images on Bottles... Alcohol Warning Labels to Be Strengthened Starting November

Revision of the National Health Promotion Act Enforcement Rules

Full Implementation After Six-Month Grace Period

Larger Warning Labels and Introduction of Visual Warning Images

Starting in November, all alcoholic beverage bottles sold in Korea will be required to include warning labels and images highlighting the dangers of drunk driving.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute announced on May 8 that they have revised the “Enforcement Rules and Notice of the National Health Promotion Act” to include these measures, which will take effect from November 9.

This amendment aims to reduce health risks associated with alcohol consumption and social harms such as drunk driving. The decision was finalized on May 4 following a review by the Alcohol Harm Prevention Policy Committee under the National Health Promotion Policy Committee and a 60-day legislative notice period.

The revised rules significantly strengthen visual elements so that consumers can easily recognize the risks of drinking, regardless of the type of alcoholic container (can, bottle, PET, etc.).

First, all alcoholic beverage labels will now include the phrase “No Drunk Driving” or a corresponding image. This allows the dangers of drunk driving to be highlighted alongside existing warnings about health risks and the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

Additionally, moving beyond warnings expressed only in text, the amendment introduces the legal basis for displaying warning images that are more prominent and impactful. Like the warning images on cigarette packs, this is intended to help consumers immediately recognize the risks of alcohol consumption.

The revised rules also require the warning text on labels to be printed in larger font, making previously easily overlooked messages more readable for consumers.

The amended law and regulations will be implemented after a six-month grace period to comply with the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO TBT).

The new rules apply to all alcoholic beverages shipped or imported after March 19 of this year. However, products shipped or imported before November 9 may continue to be sold on the market until May 8, 2027.

The full text of the revised law and subordinate regulations, as well as detailed guidelines for alcoholic beverage containers, advertising, excessive drinking warnings, and warning image labeling, can be found on the Ministry of Health and Welfare and National Law Information Center websites.

Kim Hyunju, President of the Korea Health Promotion Institute, stated, “We will distribute and provide guidance on the revised labeling standards to help manufacturers and importers comply without confusion,” and added, “We will continue multifaceted public awareness campaigns and education to foster a culture of healthy drinking in our society.”

Kim Hansook, Director of the Health Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, commented, “This policy improvement is intended to raise awareness that alcohol is more than just a recreational product and can have a significant impact on personal health and social safety. We hope that the introduction of warning images will enable people to more intuitively recognize the dangers of drinking.”

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