New Law: Sellers Exempt from Punishment for Selling Alcohol and Cigarettes to Minors

New Law Exempts Sellers from Punishment for Selling Alcohol and Cigarettes to Minors

A recent law amendment in South Korea has brought about changes in the punishment for sellers who sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors. Under the previous law, only the sellers would face penalties if caught selling these products to minors who deceived them about their age. However, the new regulation states that sellers will not be punished if they verify the buyer’s identification.

Challenges in Detecting Minors’ Deception

Identifying minors who pretend to be adults or forge identification has proven to be a difficult task. This poses a threat to the livelihoods of self-employed individuals who may unknowingly sell alcohol and cigarettes to underage customers.

Addressing Concerns and Government Measures

In response to these challenges, the South Korean government has introduced measures to tackle the issue. According to the new regulations, sellers who verify the buyer’s identification or provide evidence of coercion will be exempt from administrative penalties.

During the 10th public hearing on livelihood issues held in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, self-employed individuals had the opportunity to express their grievances. Many of them have faced business suspensions for selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors.

Impact on Self-Employed Individuals and Tax Revenue

One self-employed individual voluntarily reported selling alcohol and received a business suspension after being deceived by a minor who dressed formally and carried an expensive handbag to appear older. Another mentioned the inability to sell cigarettes for a month due to a business suspension.

As a means to strike a balance between punishment and support for small business owners, the new law reduces the business suspension period for selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors from 2 months to 1 week.

Furthermore, the government has raised the simplified tax assessment threshold for self-employed individuals from 80 million won to 140 million won. This adjustment aims to alleviate the tax burden on self-employed individuals.

Approximately 140,000 self-employed individuals are expected to be affected by the increase in the simplified tax assessment threshold. As a result, tax revenue is estimated to decrease by around 400 billion won.

Ethical Reporting and Journalistic Integrity

This news article, written by journalist Oh Won-seok from the Economic Industry Team, aims to provide accurate information and address the concerns of self-employed individuals affected by the new law. It highlights the need for swift institutional improvements and proposes alternative solutions that can be implemented by local governments without requiring legal amendments.

Another article by journalist Kim Ji-woo from the Video Editing Team emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting and upholding the integrity of journalism.

For more information or inquiries, please contact the respective journalists via email.

Sources: Jtbc