About 4 out of every 10 electronic cigarette vending machines operating in Seoul cannot determine whether an ID is genuine, meaning anyone can buy e-cigarettes with a forged or altered ID.
Seoul said on the 2nd that a focused inspection of e-cigarette retailers from Apr. 24 to Jun. 23 over two months revealed these findings.
Of 666 e-cigarette retailers in Seoul, 190 (28.5%) have installed and operate vending machines. The vending machines sell liquid-type e-cigarettes and e-cigarette devices. This is cited as a primary reason that makes it easy for teenagers to access e-cigarettes.
To check teenagers' potential access, Seoul made five types of IDs and examined how adult-verification devices on vending machines operate. The city created a total of five IDs—one resident registration card with Dooly's photo, two resident registration cards with photos of a fictional adult man and woman, and two driver's licenses—and checked whether the adult-verification devices on e-cigarette vending machines could detect forged or altered IDs.
As a result, 339 of 415 vending machines allowed adult verification using an ID (resident registration card, driver's license). Of these, 168 also passed verification with forged or altered IDs. On 112 machines, all five types of forged or altered IDs were accepted.
Under the current National Health Promotion Act, adult-verification devices are required on cigarette vending machines. However, there are no regulatory provisions for malfunctions such as failure to detect forged or altered IDs. Seoul said, "There is a need to improve the system to firmly block teenagers' access to e-cigarettes."
In addition, compliance with posting youth sales prohibition warning notices was found to be insufficient. Only 58.6% (390 locations) had warning notices posted inside the shop. Among the 190 stores operating vending machines, only 33.2% (63 locations) had warning notices. Under the Youth Protection Act and its enforcement decree, tobacco retailers and cigarette vending machines must post youth tobacco sales prohibition warnings that meet specifications.
There were also cases where the required-size warning notices were not posted. Among shops with indoor warning notices, 40.3% (157 locations), and among vending machines with warning notices, 30.2% (19 locations) failed to meet the size standards.
Management of e-cigarette advertising also needs improvement. Of those surveyed retailers, 56.3% (375 locations) displayed e-cigarette ads inside their stores. Of the shops that posted ads, 67.7% (254 locations) had ads visible from the outside. Under the National Health Promotion Act, tobacco-related ads are only allowed to be displayed or attached inside the business premises of designated tobacco retailers. Ads visible from outside the premises are regulated.
Based on the issues identified during this inspection, Seoul actively proposed to relevant agencies improvements to the adult-verification system for cigarette vending machines. The city also urged self-regulation by sending notices to vending machine operators requesting corrective measures for verification devices.
Cho Yeong-chang, director of the Seoul Citizens' Health Bureau, said, "For expanded regulation of liquid-type e-cigarettes to be effective, changes on the ground must come alongside legal and institutional refinements," adding, "We will take the lead in creating a smoke-free environment that puts citizens' health first by continuing multifaceted efforts, from on-site guidance to urging the industry's self-regulation."