Is it permissible to advertise alcoholic beverages on taxis in Vietnam?

Is it permissible to advertise alcoholic beverages on taxis in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 12 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages in 2019, which stipulates alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be advertised in Vietnam as follows: 

a) in advertising events or through advertising facilities and products that are intended for minors, students, adolescents and pregnant women;

b) on vehicles;

c) on an audio newspaper or visual newspaper before, during and after a children’s program; from 18:00 to 21:00, except in the case the advertisement is available in live sports events that are broadcasted from a foreign country and other cases prescribed by the Government;

d) through outdoor advertising facilities that violate regulations on sizes and placement distance from educational institutions, nursing care centers and recreational centers intended for minors.

As regulations above, advertising alcoholic beverages on taxis in Vietnam is against the law. You shall turn down the offer from alcoholic beverages company H to avoid violations against the law.

What are the penalties for advertising alcoholic beverages on taxis in Vietnam? 

Pursuant to Clause 2, 4 and 5, Article 33 of the Decree 117/2020/NĐ-CP, which stipulates violations against regulations on advertising of alcoholic beverages in Vietnam as follows: 

2. A fine ranging from VND 20.000.000 to VND 30.000.000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts of advertising spirits having less than 15% ABV and beer products:

a) An advertisement contains information/images aimed at encouraging alcoholic beverage consumption, saying that alcoholic beverages may enable the maturity, success, friendliness and sex appeal, or being directed towards children, students, adolescents and pregnant women;

b) An advertisement uses objects, images, symbols, music, movie characters and brands of products intended for children, pupils and students, or uses images of persons aged under 18;

c) Alcoholic beverages are advertised in advertising events or through advertising facilities/products that are intended for persons aged under 18, pupils, students, adolescents and pregnant women;

d) Alcoholic beverages are advertised on vehicles;

dd) Alcoholic beverages are advertised on audio or visual newspapers before, during or after a children's program, or from 18:00 PM to 21:00 PM daily, unless permitted by law;

e) Alcoholic beverages are advertised through outdoor advertising facilities that violate regulations on sizes and placement distance from educational institutions, nursing care centers and recreational centers intended for persons aged under 18;

g) An advertisement does not contain warnings against harmful effects of alcoholic beverages as prescribed by law;

h) Failing to run a filtering system or access control software to prevent persons aged under 18 from accessing and searching for information about alcoholic beverages when running advertisements on online newspapers, websites, electronic equipment, terminal devices and other telecommunications equipment.

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4. Additional penalty:

The advertising of alcoholic beverages shall be suspended for a fixed period of 01- 03 months in case of commission of the violation in Point h Clause 2 of this Article.

5. Remedial measure:

Advertisements shall be taken back and have their violating elements removed in case of commission of one of the violations in Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article.

As regulations above, advertising alcoholic beverages on taxis in Vietnam shall be fined from VND 20.000.000 to VND 30.000.000. Besides, the advertising of alcoholic beverages shall be suspended for a fixed period of 01- 03 months and advertisements shall be taken back as additional penalties.

Best regards!