Restrictions on Actors' Alcohol and Beer Drinking Scenes in Films Starting from February 24, 2020

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Decree 24 stipulates that the use of images of actors drinking alcohol or beer in cinema, theatre, and television works must meet the following requirements:

- Not reflecting the prohibited behaviors stipulated in Article 5 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-Related Harms;

- Not reflecting behaviors of drinking alcohol or beer at locations stipulated in Article 10 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-Related Harms;

- Not reflecting behaviors of selling alcohol or beer at locations stipulated in Article 19 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-Related Harms;

- Not reflecting behaviors of drinking alcohol or beer in theatre, cinema, and television works aimed at individuals under 18 years old; except in cases of criticism or condemnation of such behaviors;

- Not glorifying organizations or individuals successful in producing or trading alcohol, beer;

- The use of images of actors drinking alcohol or beer for artistic purposes is only allowed when necessary to depict historical characters or to recreate a certain historical period or to criticize or condemn the behavior of drinking alcohol or beer;

- The use of images of actors drinking alcohol or beer for artistic purposes outside of the aforementioned cases must be approved by the competent film approval authority based on the proposal of the Film Appraisal Council in accordance with the Cinema Law or by the competent authority which licenses the organization of artistic performances;

- The approval of the use of images of actors drinking alcohol or beer for artistic purposes is integrated during the appraisal, licensing, and approval process of cinema, theatre, and television works according to legal regulations and ensures no additional administrative procedures arise.

Note: The extent of scenes showing actors drinking alcohol or beer in the cases specified at point c, point d of Clause 1 Article 4 of Decree 24 is a criterion for classifying films to appropriately distribute according to age groups, integrating with the film classification criteria guided by the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Details can be found at Decree 24/2020/ND-CP, effective from February 24, 2020.

Le Hai

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