Korea closes loophole allowing minors into unmanned vape shops
Minors will be barred from entering or working at unmanned e-cigarette stores, as the government moves to close a regulatory gap that has let them buy e-cigarettes unchecked. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Monday that it will pre-announce legislation aimed at blocking the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes to minors at unmanned stores, during a notice period that will run…
Korea is closing a loophole that allowed minors to purchase e-cigarettes from unmanned vape shops, as the government enacts new regulations to prevent underage sales. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced this policy change on Monday, aiming to pre-empt legislation that will be effective from October 6. This rule targets businesses that dispense e-cigarette products and liquids through vending machines without any human presence.
Under the new guideline, these establishments must display signs prohibiting minors from entering or working and implement measures like age verification to keep individuals under 19 out. Yoon Se-jin, the ministry's director of youth policy, emphasized the need to strengthen the system to prevent minors from easily obtaining e-cigarettes.
The decision comes after increasing worries that minors might still be able to buy e-cigarettes at unmanned stores despite the new measures.
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- Korea closes loophole allowing minors into unmanned vape shops koreatimes.co.kr
