Request of the Ministry of Health on strengthening the prevention of the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in Vietnam

Request of the Ministry of Health on strengthening the prevention of the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in Vietnam (Internet image) 

On January 29, 2024, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch 446/BYT-DP on strengthening the prevention and control of the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

Request of the Ministry of Health on strengthening the prevention of the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in Vietnam

Specifically, in order to continue to strictly implement the Law on prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages and to strengthen measures to prevent and control the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages during the Lunar New Year and festivals in 2024, the Ministry of Health requests that the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities pay attention to directing and organizing the implementation of the following contents:

- Direct the promotion of information, education and communication activities and organize effective communication programs and campaigns, especially during the Lunar New Year of Dragon and holidays and festivals in 2024, to raise awareness and change community behavior to prevent and combat the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages. Focus on propaganda on preventing and combating the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages on human health, family, and community to ensure traffic safety, social order, and safety; propagate regulations on prohibited acts; the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages on people under 18 years old; do not drink alcohol before and while driving; determine the time and place where alcohol and beer are not allowed to be consumed or sold; and implement other regulations in the Law on Prevention and Control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

- Thoroughly grasp, disseminate, and organize the timely and complete implementation of the Law and legal documents on preventing and combating the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in the locality. Develop plans and allocate annual local budgets to implement the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

- Direct departments, branches, units, and localities to strengthen the prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in their areas of responsibility. Effectively deploy screening measures, early detection, and intervention to reduce the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages on health; prevent and combat the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages for workers, students, and drivers of vehicles participating in traffic; prevent and combat the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in production, business, advertising, promotion of alcohol and beer, and other related fields.

- Strengthen inspection and examination of the implementation of the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages, especially on peak occasions, to strictly handle violations according to regulations.

- Report on the results of the prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in the area under its management annually to the Ministry of Health for synthesis and reporting to the Government according to regulations.

State policies on prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in Vietnam

- Implement measures to prevent and control harmful effects of alcoholic beverages in a uniform manner.

- Give priority to the dissemination of information and education; reduce the availability of and easy access to alcoholic beverages; strengthen management of home production of spirits; implement measures to prevent and control harmful effects of alcoholic beverages on children, students, adolescents and pregnant women.

- Provide resources for prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages; focus on prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages within internal local health centers and communities; encourage private sector involvement in prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

- Encourage scientific research, technology development and application of high, advanced and new technologies with a view to reducing harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

- Reward organizations and individuals that achieve accomplishments in prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages.

(Article 3 of the Law on prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages 2019)

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 446/BYT-DP issued on January 29, 2024.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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