Nghe An people's opinions on increasing fines for driving with alcohol concentration

Mr. Hoang Quoc Ky (Vinh City): Adjustments are needed to ensure fairness.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Ky said that it is necessary to clarify and adjust some contents of the law. Photo: HT

Expressing his opinion on the 2019 Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol Harm, which took effect from January 1, 2020, Mr. Hoang Quoc Ky (residing in Vinh city) said: “I personally agree and support the regulation that driving is not allowed to drink alcohol. And I hope that this regulation will contribute positively to reducing accidents and risks related to alcohol.”

However, Mr. Hoang Quoc Ky also said that the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer 2019 needs certain adjustments to ensure fairness and improve feasibility.

To clarify this, Mr. Ky said that the Law stipulates the use of a breathalyzer for drivers participating in traffic, if there is an alcohol concentration, they will be fined. However, in reality, people do not only drink alcohol and beer to have alcohol concentration in their bodies, including in their breath. Because there are many other factors that can create alcohol concentration in the human body such as some fruits, fermented foods, some drugs, functional foods... Meanwhile, the alcohol concentration measuring machine cannot determine the "origin" of the alcohol concentration, whether it is due to drinking alcohol, beer or taking drugs, eating fruit... Thus, there will be cases where people are "wrongly" fined when asked to check their alcohol concentration while participating in traffic.

Therefore, Mr. Hoang Quoc Ky hopes that the law will be adjusted, specifically if the regulation is that having alcohol concentration is punishable, there must be measures to determine the cause of the alcohol concentration in the human body at the time of testing. If it is impossible to determine the origin of the substance causing the alcohol concentration, there must be regulations on the threshold of alcohol concentration in the breath (caused by alcohol, beer) when applying the penalty according to the law.

Mr. Le Van Nghiem (Vinh City): There needs to be measures to control people under 18 years old from drinking alcohol.

Mr. Le Van Nghiem wondered what the regulations are regarding the sale of alcohol for business households. Photo: HT

As a small business owner selling groceries, among the items sold at the stall right in Mr. Nghiem's ​​family's house are some types of alcohol, but the regulations in the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer that he knows are still very vague, mainly through social networks. He wondered: "I don't know the specific regulations for alcohol and beer traders, so I'm very nervous."

Agreeing with the increase in fines for those who drive while still drinking alcohol, Mr. Nghiem said that such a regulation would have a high deterrent effect, hopefully helping to reduce the number of drunk drivers. However, he himself could not help but worry, because in daily communication, drinking alcohol is inevitable, especially at parties. There are people who drink alcohol today but a few days later the alcohol concentration in their body is still not gone.

“To limit the current widespread drinking of alcohol, it is best to have measures to restrict or strictly manage the production and sale of alcohol and beer. For example, increase the price of alcohol, or impose high taxes on alcohol and beer. As for banning people under 18 from drinking alcohol, there must be measures to ensure control of this group,” Nghiem suggested.

Mr. Ho Quang Thanh (Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu): Take a taxi or quit drinking

Mr. Ho Quang Thanh (far left) is happy that the law has been enacted to give him a reason to refuse to drink alcohol. Photo: HT

Commenting on the increase in fines for people who drink alcohol while participating in traffic, Mr. Ho Thanh Quang (residing in Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district) said that the new regulations of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer will help limit drinking and drunkenness in the community, especially in State agencies, political and social organizations, especially at the commune and village levels. According to Mr. Ho Quang Thanh, these new regulations help many people have a "reason" to refuse to drink alcohol, limit drinking alcohol, especially when participating in festivals and celebrations.

And with these new regulations and fines, Mr. Thanh hopes that each person will gradually get into the habit of "saying no to alcohol". And in order to avoid breaking the law, not being fined, not causing accidents for others and yourself, "if you drink alcohol, do not drive. If you drink alcohol, take a taxi, ask someone else to drive for you, or quit drinking, do not drink alcohol" - Mr. Thanh expressed.

Ms. Luong Thi Tam (Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district): Propaganda plays an important role.

Ms. Luong Thi Tam suggested strengthening propaganda work to raise people's awareness. Photo: HT

As a village official, Ms. Luong Thi Tam (residing in Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district) said that in January 2020, Khe Lo village management board as well as authorities at all levels will begin to propagate and mobilize people to strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer, which has just taken effect from January 1, 2020.

Ms. Tam only knows that in the highlands like Con Cuong, the custom of drinking alcohol has existed for a long time, it has become a cultural feature of the people here, so not only men but also women drink alcohol, especially during festivals, holidays, and Tet. Therefore, it is impossible to eliminate this custom, but there must be measures to limit the harmful effects of alcohol and beer.

In Mon Son commune, there have been many fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers for many years. “Last year (2019), a couple was walking on the side of the road when they were hit by a drunk motorcyclist, killing both of them,” Ms. Tam recounted.

Ms. Luong Thi Tam said that it is necessary to further promote propaganda so that each person has self-awareness and limits drinking alcohol and beer. For people in mountainous areas like Mon Son, the main means of transportation are motorbikes and bicycles. In the immediate future, it is necessary to propagate that people should not drive when drinking alcohol, or if they drink alcohol, they should walk.