Why do you need an age verification gate?
If you sell alcohol online in Australia (soju, makgeolli, beer and so on), you're legally required to verify the buyer's age. Under each state's Liquor Licence and Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) rules, selling alcohol to anyone under 18 can land your business with heavy fines.
For Korean grocers, banchan shops, and restaurants or delivery sites that also sell alcohol, an age verification gate is no longer optional.
What is an age verification gate?
It's a pop-up that asks visitors to confirm their age before they enter the site or check out. There are two common approaches:
- Simple confirmation: a light 'Are you over 18? Yes/No' button
- Date of birth entry: visitors type in their birthday so the site calculates their age (handy for record-keeping)
What to watch out for when setting it up
- Re-check at checkout: confirm again at the order and delivery stage, not just on the first visit.
- Flag ID checks on delivery: clearly state that the driver will check the recipient's ID.
- Remember with cookies: don't keep asking returning visitors for a set period to reduce friction.
- Optimise for mobile: most customers browse on their phones, so the pop-up must display cleanly.
- Check your state's rules: NSW, VIC and others have different details — always confirm your licence conditions.
A small tool that prevents big risk
An age verification gate isn't hard to install, but skipping it can lead to a licence breach. It's a smart investment that lowers legal risk without hurting the customer experience.
PICKTECH designs age verification gates and payment integration tailored to the alcohol-selling sites of Korean businesses in Australia. If you need safe, compliant online sales, feel free to get in touch.