09 Places where alcoholic beverage consumption is not allowed in Vietnam

09 Places where alcoholic beverage consumption is not allowed in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. What are alcoholic beverages?

In Clauses 1 and 2, Article 2 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages 2019 defines alcoholic beverages as follows:

- Spirit refers to a food-grade alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of one or a mixture of ingredients mainly including starches of cereals or sugar syrups of plants, flowers, tubers, fruits or beverages obtained from food-grade alcohol.

- Beer refers to a food-grade alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of a mixture of ingredients mainly including malt, barley, yeast, hops and water.

2. Places where alcoholic beverage consumption is not allowed in Vietnam

Places where alcoholic beverage consumption is not allowed include:

(1) Health facilities.

(2) Educational institutions during teaching, learning and working hours.

(3) Nursing care centers and recreational centers for minors.

(4) Rehabilitation centers, compulsory educational institutions, reform schools, prisons and other detention facilities.

(5) Social protection centers.

(6) Workplaces of regulatory authorities, political organizations, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations and public service providers during working hours, except for places where the trade in alcoholic beverages is allowed.

(7) Parks, except restaurants inside the boundaries of parks which have obtained licenses to trade in alcoholic beverages before the effective date of this Decree.

(8) Bus shelter.

(9) Cinemas, theaters, cultural and sports centers during the period of events that they host according to their licensed main purposes, tasks and functions, except when they host food and cultural events where consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted.

(Article 10 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages 2019, Article 3 of Decree 24/2020/ND-CP)

3. Prohibited acts regarding alcoholic beverages in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages 2019, the prohibited acts regarding alcoholic beverages include:

- Inciting, persuading and forcing another to consume alcoholic beverages.

- Consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under 18 years of age (hereinafter referred to as “minors”).

- Selling, supplying and offering discounts on alcoholic beverages to minors.

- Employing minors to directly engage in production, purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages.

- Consumption of alcoholic beverages during working and learning hours and break time by officials, public employees and employees working for organizations, officers, enlistees, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and persons working for People's Armed Force, and students.

- Operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol.

- Advertising spirits having at least 15% ABV.

- Providing inaccurate and misleading information about effects of alcoholic beverages on health.

- Running sales promotions of alcoholic beverages having at least 15% ABV; using alcoholic beverages having at least 15% ABV to run sales promotions in any shape or form.

- Using raw materials, additives and food processing aids not permitted for use in food; raw materials, additives and food processing aids that are unqualified and of unknown origins for production and preparation of alcoholic beverages.

- Trading in spirits without any license or registration; selling alcoholic beverages using vending machines.

- Trading in, possessing and transporting alcoholic beverages that are counterfeit, illegally imported, unqualified and of unknown origin, illegally importing alcoholic beverages.

- Other prohibited acts related to alcoholic beverages as prescribed by law.

Nguyen Thi Hoai Thuong

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