Wine, beer and alcoholic beverages may only be sold from 6am - 10pm

The draft Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol, Beer and Other Alcoholic Beverages, drafted by the Ministry of Health, has been sent to the Ministry of Justice for review.

Notably, this draft proposes to regulate that wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages can only be sold between 6am and 10pm, except in the case of sales at international airports and areas and streets that have been organized by competent state agencies as places specializing in food, entertainment and tourism businesses.

Illustration photo

The roadmap for implementing the time for selling wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages according to Government regulations is based on practical requirements of the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages and practical conditions of each locality.

Also according to the Draft Law, it is not allowed to sell wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages at locations such as medical facilities; educational facilities; childcare, nurturing, entertainment and recreation facilities for children; workplaces of agencies, organizations and enterprises (except for enterprises trading in wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages).

This draft Law strictly prohibits advertising in any form, on all advertising media for wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of 15 degrees or higher; strictly prohibits advertising wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages under 15 degrees in programs, television channels, films and other publications for children; on means of transport, outdoor advertising media, on social networks, electronic information pages...

"Advertising wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages under 15 degrees on television and radio can only be done from 10pm to 6am the following day. Limit images of drinking wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages in cinema and television products" - The Draft Law clearly states.

In addition, organizations and individuals producing and trading in wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages are not allowed to sponsor medical and educational activities or activities involving people under 18 years of age; organizations and individuals trading in wine are also not allowed to sponsor cultural, artistic, physical education, sports and entertainment activities.

The draft also proposes that sponsorships should not be announced in the media and that the names of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages should not appear on sponsored items.

Notably, from the effective date of this Law, the issuance and re-issuance of licenses, business registration certificates, and changes in business locations for wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages must ensure a radius distance between locations of not less than 200m, except for areas and streets specializing in culinary and tourism businesses.