In Seoul, about 4 out of 10 electronic cigarette vending machines in operation failed to verify the authenticity of ID cards. This means anyone can buy e-cigarettes with forged or altered IDs.
Seoul City said on the 2nd that a focused inspection of e-cigarette retail outlets conducted for two months from Apr. 24 to June 23 revealed these findings.
Of 666 e-cigarette retail outlets in Seoul, 190 stores (28.5%) have installed and are operating vending machines. The vending machines sell liquid-type e-cigarettes and e-cigarette devices. This is cited as a key reason that makes it easier for adolescents to access e-cigarettes.
To check the possibility of adolescent access, Seoul City created a total of five types of IDs and inspected how the adult verification devices in the vending machines operate. The city made five types of IDs—one resident registration card with a Dooly photo, two resident registration cards with photos of a virtual adult man and woman, and two driver's licenses with the same—and checked whether the adult verification devices in e-cigarette vending machines could detect forged or altered IDs.
As a result, 339 of 415 vending machines enabled adult verification using IDs (resident registration cards, driver's licenses). Of these, 168 also passed verification with forged or altered IDs. In 112 machines, all five types of forged or altered IDs were verified.
Under the current National Health Promotion Act, adult verification devices are mandatory on cigarette vending machines. However, there are no regulations on malfunctions such as failure to detect forged or altered IDs. Seoul City said, "It is necessary to improve the system to firmly block adolescents' access to e-cigarettes."
In addition, compliance with posting warning notices on sales to minors was also found to be lacking. Only 58.6% (390 locations) had warning notices posted inside the outlets. Among the 190 stores operating vending machines, only 33.2% (63 locations) had posted the notices. Under the Youth Protection Act and its enforcement decree, cigarette retail outlets and cigarette vending machines must post standard warning notices prohibiting sales to minors.
There were also cases where the required size of the warning notice was not used. Among the outlets that posted indoor warning notices, 40.3% (157 locations), and among the vending machines with warning notices, 30.2% (19 locations), fell short of the size standards.
Management of e-cigarette advertising also needs improvement. Of those surveyed outlets, 56.3% (375 locations) displayed e-cigarette advertisements inside the stores. Of the stores that posted advertisements, 67.7% (254 locations) had ads visible from outside. Under the National Health Promotion Act, advertising related to cigarettes is allowed only for display or posting inside the business premises of designated tobacco retailers. Advertising visible from outside the premises is regulated.
Based on the problems identified during this inspection, Seoul City actively recommended to relevant agencies that the adult verification system for cigarette vending machines be improved. The city also urged voluntary compliance by sending notices to vending machine operators requesting corrective measures for the verification devices.
Cho Yeong-chang, head of the Seoul City Citizens' Health Bureau, said, "For the expanded regulation of liquid-type e-cigarettes to be effective, on-the-ground changes must be achieved along with improvements to laws and systems," adding, "We will lead the creation of a smoke-free environment that prioritizes citizens' health by continuing multifaceted efforts, from on-site guidance to urging the industry to exercise self-regulation."