South Korea introduces mandatory drink-driving warnings on alcohol

From November 2026, all alcohol sold in South Korea must be labelled with drink-driving warnings under new legislation, as part of a push to reduce alcohol-related harm.

From 9 November, it will be mandatory for all alcoholic beverages sold in South Korea to carry text or image warnings of the dangers of drink-driving.

The revised rules were announced by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute on Friday.

To make things easier for alcohol producers, regulators have come up with a formal legal basis for visual warning images, including a move towards more graphic health messaging.

The legsation will require liquor s to include a “no drunk driving” warning in text or image form, alongside existing warnings about health risks and the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

Compliance with the regulation will technically apply to all alcoholic beverages produced domestically or cleared through customs after 19 March this year.

However, a six-month grace period has been granted under World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade procedures.

This means that products manufactured or imported before the November implementation date may also continue to be sold until 8 May 2027.

Kim Han-suk, director general of health policy at the ministry, said, “The aim is to raise awareness that alcohol, beyond being a mere preference item, can significantly affect individual health and public safety.

“The government will continue to pursue institutional improvements to reduce health damage and social expense caused by drinking.”

According to the Korean National Police Agency, there were 10,351 drunk driving traffic accidents last year, down 6.6% from the previous year’s 11,037. The number of deaths last year was 121, a 12.3% drop from the year before. However, despite this downward trend, roughly 10,000 accidents occur every year.

However, officials worry that the move could hurt alcohol producers, creating challenges to managing products that are already in production.

Speaking to Chosun Biz, an industry official said: “Because there is a grace period, each manufacturer can prepare how to apply the phrases or images in time for implementation,” but added, “It is realistically difficult to recall and manage products already distributed. In some small-scale channels outside major distribution networks, management may not go smoothly by the time the regulations take effect.”

A liquor import company official also told the publication: “For the time being, existing-label and new-label products will be distributed together, making on-site confusion unavoidable,” adding, “For alcohol like whisky that can be stored for a long time, it will be difficult to manage by distinguishing labels between past import volumes and new volumes.”

Violations of the new rules can result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

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