Online liquor sales boom in Vietnam
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Vietnam has removed a proposed decree to prohibit online liquor sales, accepting that it goes against international trends. The bill, proposed by the Ministry of Health last year, would have prohibited online sales of beverages with an alcohol content of more than 15 percent. But legislators got into a heated debate over this regulation, with critics saying that it would go against international trends and challenge e-commerce development.
The National Assembly (NA) Committee for Social Affairs on Thursday said it has removed the decree after listening to legislators’ views.
Some new changes have been made in the latest version of the bill. The advertisement for beverages with less than 15 percent of the alcohol content will now be allowed on TV and radio.
However, these advertisements must not be carried between 7-8 p.m. every day.
The bill is set to be discussed and voted on at the end of the ongoing National Assembly session.
Alcohol, especially beer, is widely consumed in Vietnam. Data collected by the Ministry of Health shows Vietnamese citizens consumed 305 million liters of liquor and 4.1 billion liters of beer in 2017, making it the biggest alcohol consumer in Southeast Asia and third biggest in Asia after Japan and China.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which government body originally proposed the ban on online liquor sales?
Which government body originally proposed the ban on online liquor sales?
The Ministry of Health originally proposed the bill last year. This proposed legislation aimed to prohibit online sales of alcoholic beverages exceeding 15 percent alcohol content.
Q.What is the new rule regarding advertising for lower alcohol content drinks?
What is the new rule regarding advertising for lower alcohol content drinks?
Advertisements for beverages with less than 15 percent alcohol content will now be permitted on TV and radio. However, these adverts are prohibited between 7 p.m. And 8 p.m. Daily.
Q.When will the updated bill be discussed and voted on?
When will the updated bill be discussed and voted on?
The revised bill is scheduled for discussion and a vote at the conclusion of the current National Assembly session. This follows legislators' views being heard by the Committee for Social Affairs.