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When I was growing up in the 70s, it was totally normal for a dad to give their under 10 year old kid some money and send them to the corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes for dad.

My Japanese friend told me his parents would send him to the store for beer at age 5. (He would successfully return with beer)

I gather things are different now over there...

Where is “over there”?

Japan namely. While I cannot say whether or not a store would sell beer to a 5 year old, no longer can anyone just buy beer or cigarettes (and more) from vending machines.

If you are asking the part of Japan - Tokushima.

They even made a whole TV show about it!

I believe a common joke is about a protective parent sending a child on an errand and then following along to see if the child does okay.

Japan has a lot less crime than the US.