2024-06-09 17:05:32
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The ‘jansul (alcohol offered by the glass)’ tradition that was widespread within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies has been revived. It’s because the modification to the ‘Enforcement Decree of the Liquor License Act,’ which specifies ‘circumstances the place alcohol is offered in empty containers resembling ingesting glasses’ as an exception to the cancellation of liquor gross sales licenses, has been carried out. Within the meantime, in the event you had been caught promoting soju or makgeolli by the glass, your liquor gross sales license could possibly be revoked. Instances that truly resulted in license revocation had been uncommon, however now it has change into a transparent case of ‘not responsible’.
To get a glimpse of the modified ambiance after the regulation was revised, I visited ‘Wealthy Village’, well-known for its ingesting institutions, close to Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul round 2pm on the thirty first of final month. Bujachon is sort of a hometown that has been right here for almost 20 years. You’ll be able to have a full glass of makgeolli and major dishes resembling pickled radish, corn, and pancakes for 1,000 received. I caught up with Mr. Kim (72), who was leaving after ingesting a glass of makgeolli, and listened to his story.
“I typically drink a glass of makgeolli right here. Should you purchase a bottle at a comfort retailer and drink it, it is low-cost, however one thing feels empty. Right here, they pour it into your glass like this, so it makes you’re feeling such as you’re at a bar, and that is okay. Younger individuals additionally come usually. But it surely’s a bit messy for younger individuals to eat… . Even once they come, there are only some individuals who eat.”
Mr. Kim mentioned he visits the wealthy village a couple of times per week. That is to appease the bored and lonely coronary heart. Specifically, just lately, the variety of younger individuals who need to expertise outdated tradition has elevated, and so they mentioned it was fascinating, however smiled shyly.
Along with the wealthy village, there have been a number of different locations promoting glasses of alcohol round Tapgol Park. After I requested Jeong Yang-im (71), who runs a snack bar on the entrance to Songhae-gil, whether or not he sells alcohol by the glass, he gave me a cautious reply.
“It’s been 25 years since I began doing enterprise on this space. That is my seventeenth 12 months at this location. Prior to now, all Daepot Sul (liquor that you simply drink in massive bowls) was offered right here. However now that I advised them to not promote it, the aged individuals got here and requested for it. So even now, outdated individuals come right here. Nonetheless, younger individuals typically come and ask if issues have modified. “Very hardly ever.”
Unfamiliar outdated world tradition… Nonetheless a adverse view
Though the ingesting tradition has been revived, it’s nonetheless thought of ‘just for the aged.’ In reality, whereas strolling round Tapgol Park for about 2 to three hours that day, there was no younger era searching for a drink. The most important impediment might be hygiene. Most locations that promote alcoholic drinks are outdated, long-established shops or meals stalls, so the atmosphere is weak to hygiene.
The truth that the glasses affected by the regulation revision are diluted soju or makgeolli additionally makes hygiene administration troublesome. Each drinks are often drunk chilly. Nonetheless, within the case of meals stalls, it’s troublesome to have a fridge, so alcohol is saved in a cooler with ice. It’s an atmosphere weak to bacterial development when storing opened alcohol. As well as, there are considerations resembling reusing alcohol left by prospects to promote it by the glass.
The truth that ingesting tradition has modified additionally acts as a barrier. Initially, ingesting a glass of wine was a tradition that started within the days when individuals weren’t effectively off, as a manner for drinkers to easily relieve their cravings whereas working at small outlets known as ‘Jeombbang’ or on their manner residence from work. In different phrases, I actually centered on ‘having a drink’. Nonetheless, the present ingesting tradition is one in every of having fun with leisurely dialog with snacks. There isn’t a must have poor snacks and drinks.
In actuality, there are various skeptical views on promoting liquor. On this present day, the proprietor of a soup restaurant close to Nakwon Musical Instrument Mall mentioned, “Who drinks alcohol today? They are saying the regulation has modified, however nobody is searching for a glass of alcohol. Individuals who come right here often order one bottle every, so there is no such thing as a purpose to order a glass of alcohol. “It’s troublesome to handle and I’ve no intention of promoting small quantities of alcohol,” he mentioned.
Jeong Yang-im, the proprietor of a meals stall that sells small quantities of alcohol, additionally expressed his grievances. He mentioned, “We promote alcohol, but it surely doesn’t assist a lot with gross sales. “I’m simply going to have a glass of water, fish cake soup, and a few alcohol,” he mentioned. It’s mentioned that he initially poured soju right into a paper cup and offered it for 1,000 received. This is a reasonably large quantity, near half a bottle of soju. Now, relying on the worth improve, you obtain 2,000 received. Mr. Jeong mentioned, “It hasn’t been lengthy since I began receiving 2,000 received. Considering again to the previous, there are fairly just a few individuals who solely ask for 1,000 received price. However in the event you solely comply with half of it, you’ll really feel dissatisfied. So, I’ll comply with you in about 7 to eight elements. “If that occurs, there can be nothing left for me.”
What’s the response of residents? There have been some favorable responses to ingesting alcohol, however most individuals perceived it as a one-time expertise quite than a long-term ingesting tradition. Jaeyeon Lee (30), an workplace employee, mentioned, “I’m interested in ingesting glasses. However I don’t know the place it’s offered, and the speak about hygiene retains arising… . “If I drink alcohol, I’m going to drink multiple glass anyway, however I additionally suppose, ‘Why trouble?’” he mentioned.
Diversification of ingesting tradition is optimistic… The secret is ‘non-alcohol’
Many specialists additionally level out hygiene elements. Nonetheless, I view it positively because the ingesting tradition could be diversified.
This revision of the regulation tends to concentrate on diluted soju and makgeolli, which have change into accessible on the market by the glass, however actually, it’s higher to see it as an try to resolve the hole between actuality and authorized ideas. The prevailing regulation was created at a time when ‘pretend liquor’ was a social downside. However now, because the kinds of alcohol consumed have change into extra numerous and consciousness has improved, many of those issues have been resolved. This may be understood as eliminating the chance that promoting alcohol resembling whiskey or sake by the glass could possibly be interpreted as unlawful.
There may be additionally a view that the important thing to revising the regulation is non-alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks quite than alcohol. The modification contains provisions permitting normal alcohol wholesalers to provide non-alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks manufactured and offered by alcohol producers, and so forth., together with alcohol. At the moment, solely alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content material of 1% or extra could be distributed.
Concerning this, an official from the liquor business mentioned, “Beforehand, non-alcoholic drinks had been distributed solely to the house market, so there have been limits to development. “By way of this revision of the regulation, our affect has expanded into the leisure market, making a development engine,” he mentioned. “Specifically, people who find themselves reluctant to drink for causes resembling well being, driving, or train usually tend to search out non-alcoholic drinks as an alternative choice to regulate the temper at ingesting events.” I noticed.
Wooyeol Yoon, Donga.com reporter [email protected]
2024-06-09 17:05:32