The rapid growth of online alcohol sales, delivery services, and digital marketing has increased alcohol availability and heightened public health concerns, particularly among adolescents. However, regulatory responses remain inconsistent and vary significantly across regions. This scoping review synthesizes global regulatory approaches to online alcohol access, encompassing both established Western models and emerging Asian frameworks, and identifies key cross-national patterns and policy gaps. This scoping review followed PRISMA-ScR (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews) and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. Searches of four electronic databases were complemented by a supplementary gray literature search targeting specific Asian jurisdictions to minimize geographic bias. The identified sources included policies and peer-reviewed studies on online alcohol sales, delivery practices, age-verification procedures, and digital marketing regulations. Data were systematically organized by regulatory domain and analyzed using a comparative socio-political framework (liberalism vs. paternalism) to interpret cross-national differences. The analysis of 34 documents across five regulatory domains revealed a distinct global divide. Western nations predominantly rely on co-regulatory models that frequently suffer from significant enforcement gaps, whereas Asian jurisdictions employ strict structural barriers. These include mandatory digital real-name authentication, “Smart Order” systems, and joint platform liability, designed to effectively restrict underage access where Western self-regulation has historically failed. To address global enforcement gaps, future policies must evolve from “soft” co-regulation to “hard” technical mandates. Integrating Asian-style digital identity systems with strict platform liability offers a viable pathway to effectively restrict underage access and reduce alcohol-related harm.

Background
In 2015, tobacco prices significantly increased in Korea as part of the government’s smoking cessation policy. This study examined the changes in the stages of smoking cessation among Korean male smokers before and after the implementation of the tobacco price policy, and identified the predictors of such changes.
Methods
The study population comprised 3,533 male current smokers (age ≥19 years) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Current smokers were defined as persons who had smoked ≥100 cigarettes during their lifetime and are continuing to smoke. In accordance with the transtheoretical model, smokers were classified into the precontemplation stage (no plan to quit), contemplation stage, and preparation stage (planning to quit within 6 months). We examined the changes in the smoking cessation stages before and after the implementation of the policy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to the likelihood of continuing smoking, after adjustments for potential confounders.
Results
Immediately after the policy implementation, the percentage of smokers in the precontemplation stage decreased from 65.6% to 60.8% (P=0.014). However, this effect was temporary. Significant risk factors for remaining in the precontemplation stage were older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.010; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002–1.018; P=0.004), being in the lowest income quartile (OR, 1.226; 95% CI, 1.001–1.502; P=0.049), and manual worker or unemployed status (OR, 1.256; 95% CI, 1.036–1523; P=0.020).
Conclusion
Increasing tobacco prices only temporarily change the stage of smoking cessation among Korean male smokers.

Citations

• Risk of Mortality Associated With Substance Use Disorder in Korea: A National Population-Based Study
  Seyoung Kim, Jee Hoon Sohn, Seung-sik Hwang
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association Between Perceived Noise Pollution and Sleep Quality: Findings from the 2018 Community Health Survey
  Sujin Lee, Jae Ho Chung
  Noise and Health.2024; 26(122): 346.     CrossRef
• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Public Health Intervention for Smoking Cessation
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(5): 343.     CrossRef