Delivery Apps Become Backdoor for Underage Drinking and Smoking in South Korea

BUSAN, Jul. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bustling city known for its seafood and beaches, a new concern is brewing among parents and authorities alike: the ease with which minors can access alcohol and cigarettes through delivery apps. 

“It’s frustrating when someone who’s clearly underage asks me to buy alcohol or cigarettes,” said a delivery worker in his 30s, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic. He works for a service platform in Busan and regularly faces this dilemma. 

The worker explained that when such requests come in, he informs customers that he must verify their ID in person. “Often, those I suspect are minors will plead, ‘Just this once,’ or claim, ‘The previous delivery person didn’t check,’” he said. “Many end up canceling the order.”

As delivery platforms in South Korea grow in popularity, valued for their convenience and speed, they have inadvertently become a loophole for underage drinking and smoking. Minors, unable to purchase these items directly, are exploiting the anonymity of these services to bypass age restrictions. 

This issue came to light on an internet forum when a mother shared her shock at discovering her middle school son had been using his allowance to order cigarettes through a delivery app. “I scolded him harshly this time, but I’m appalled at how easily these items can be obtained through apps,” she wrote. 

Most delivery platforms have policies requiring couriers to verify the age of customers when delivering alcohol or tobacco. However, adherence to these rules is inconsistent in practice.

Another delivery worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “With contactless delivery now the norm and no oversight, I’ve often seen colleagues turn a blind eye even when the customer ordering alcohol or cigarettes looks underage. There’s a mentality that if I don’t deliver it, someone else will.”

Experts suggest that the increased accessibility of alcohol through delivery apps has led to a rise in habitual drinking among teenagers compared to previous years.

“With many dual-income households, children often have access to their parents’ credit cards, and adult verification online is surprisingly simple,” said Lee Bok-geun, chairman of the Youth Health Promotion Foundation. He added that while underage drinking and smoking were once primarily event-driven, the ability to order discreetly has made these activities more commonplace among youth.

Lee also pointed out that some minors over 16, who can obtain motorcycle licenses, even deliver alcohol to their underage friends.

Complicating matters further is the difficulty in prosecuting those who inadvertently sell or deliver these products to minors. Current laws prohibit the sale or proxy purchase of alcohol and tobacco for minors and require age verification for such sales. However, when orders are placed online with adult verification, it becomes challenging to hold vendors or delivery workers legally responsible.

A police official stated, “It’s difficult to prosecute when delivery workers claim they were unaware the customer was a minor. Even when they knowingly provide these items, prosecution often relies on witness reports, which are rare.”

As this issue grows alongside the increasing popularity of delivery platforms, experts call for legislative discussions and increased responsibility from related industries. 

“Delivery platforms must consistently educate their workers about the necessity of ID checks,” Lee emphasized. “Alcohol companies and other relevant businesses in our society can no longer avoid addressing this issue.” 

He also suggested implementing a system where parents share some responsibility and receive education regarding underage drinking and smoking.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)