<Anchor>



From today (the 1st), disposable cups cannot be used in cafes. 



However, the government took a step back at the last minute saying that there would not be a fine for violating this right away, but reporter Jang Se-man covered how the scene was on the first day.



<Reporter>



A large brand coffee shop in Seoul orders drinks.



[(Can’t it be an Americano, a disposable cup?) Starting today, you can only use mug cups in the store.]



It was not easy to see disposable cups on tables in large stores.



But small and medium-sized cafes are a little different.



[(Is it a disposable cup?) Yes, I’ll give it to you in a takeaway cup.

(Isn't the use of (disposable cups) banned from today?) We haven't received anything yet...

]



After the corona crisis, I got used to using disposable cups in the store for two years, and there are many places that are confused as the government policy is changed to guidance instead of crackdown at the last minute.



[The law has been delayed a bit (it is said).

How did this happen?

It is said that you can serve it in a takeaway cup.]



The biggest reason the government decided to suspend the fine is the fear of corona infection due to the use of reusable cups.



In fact, let's test the hygiene level of the cups washed at the cafe with a tableware contamination meter.



On the surface of the cup where I drank the cafe latte, the organic matter level was over 5300 RUL.



At three cafes, including this one, I measured the mugs and disposable cups before use, and found 45, 25, and 48 respectively.



It is said that there is no difference in cleanliness compared to disposable cups if you wash the mug well.



[Kim Mi-hwa/Chairman of the Resource Circulation Society: (At the restaurant) rice bowls, soup bowls, and spoons are all using reusable tableware, so why does it make sense that only the coffee cup (cafe) has a problem?]



Overseas scientists and doctors last year, etc. About 120 people made a statement that there is no risk of infection from multi-use tableware as long as hygiene rules are followed.



In Europe, that's why we're phasing out single-use plastic tableware as planned.



First of all, without an effort to relieve citizens' vague anxiety by presenting the scientific basis for the multi-use cup and corona infection, policy confusion, such as a sudden suspension of regulations, may occur again and again.



(Video coverage: Park Hyun-chul, video editing: Park Jin-hoon VJ: Park Hyun-woo)