Local officials are working on new regulations to prohibit the public consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages in some areas of the island. Mike Balfour reports.




Report

The (탐라) Tamna Culture Square is supposed to be a place to relax and enjoy.

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Street drinking near Tamna Culture Square

Unfortunately, people drinking openly in public often become disorderly and trash the area.

Drinking places are not limited to squares. Even near playgrounds and schools, people drink.

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Little authorities can do to crack down

It’s not easy for the authorities to intervene even if a disturbance is being caused...
...because there are no clear rules to restrict street drinking.

Offenders can be fined up to 50,000 won, as street drinking is considered a misdemeanor.

INTERVIEW
Kim Yeong-ok / Jeju Provincial Police Agency
Alcohol-related disturbances are classified as minor offenses, but that’s not enough. I believe an ordinance that restricts street drinking is needed, along with heavier fines.
<인터뷰:김영옥 제주지방경찰청 생활안전계장>
"현재 경범죄 처벌법이 있어서 음주소란행위를 단속할 수는 있지만 ."
단순히 그런 지역에서 음주를 했다고 해서 처벌할 수는 없기 때문에 조례로 제정해서 최소한 과태료를 부과할 수 있는 정도로 제재를 해야되지 않나..."

The provincial council is pushing forward with an ordinance to restrict the public consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages.

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The monthly drinking rate in Jeju is 58.4 percent, the same as the national average.

Meanwhile, islanders have higher binge-drinking rates. The high risk drinking rate in Jeju is 22.8 percent. That’s 4 percent higher than the national average.
#### c.g out ###

INTERVIEW
Kim Tae-seok / Provincial councilor
70% of local residents experience problems due to public drinking. We need to correct that. We’re establishing the ordinance to restrict drinking, at least at children’s parks and in public areas.
<인터뷰:김태석 제주도의회 운영위원회 위원장>
"10명중 7명이 공공장소에서 음주피해를 경험했다고 이야기하고 있습니다. 이런 음주문화를 바로잡을 필요가 있지 않느냐 적어도 어린이공원이나 공공장소에서 음주를 제한적으로 할 필요가 있다 이런 취지에서..."

Once the ordinance is enacted, drinking will be prohibited at some designated restricted drinking zones.

More than 40 local governments including Seoul and Busan have applied similar ordinances.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Moon Ho-seong

Some critics, however, say the new ordinance is too tight for the island’s tourist trade.

Further discussions are likely necessary to set standards for designating restricted drinking zones.

Mike Balfour, KCTV