Public places such as youth facilities and hospitals will become alcohol-free as part of the government`s efforts to end alcohol abuse among young people.

A revised bill to the National Health Promotion Act, which was passed at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, prohibits both the drinking and selling of liquor at schools, medical institutions and youth training centers.

If people are found to sell liquor in those public places, they will be subject to fines of up to 3 million won ($2,300), according to the revision.

But some cast doubt over the effectiveness of the government`s campaign, as no penalty was set for those who consume the liquor.



Despite a legal drinking age of 18, the average age at which young people start drinking has continuously dropped and is now 13, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs in March.

In fact, 41.6 percent start drinking during elementary school and 44.1 percent during middle school, the survey showed.

The revision included toughened measures on smoking as well.

With the age identification process for consumers tightened, cigarette vending machines should be equipped with a device that identifies a consumer`s age. Along with warning messages, six cancer-causing substances, including nickel, arsenic, benzene and cadmium, should be listed on packs of cigarettes.

The revision also extended the period of the government`s national health promotion plan from the current five years to 10 years as in other developed countries such as the United Sates, England and Japan.

That will be helpful in monitoring related policies more effectively, especially the effectiveness of precautionary measures, officials said. The assessment and revision of policies will be conducted every five years as well.

(jylee@heraldm.com)



By Lee Ji-yoon