Alcoholic drinks are the direct cause of at least 30 diseases and injuries and an indirect cause of at least 200 conditions.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists alcohol as a Group I carcinogen, posing high cancer risk. Alcohol consumption is directly linked to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colorectal region, liver, and breast in women.

In addition, the drinks may increase the possibility of contracting cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart failure, hypertension, and aortic aneurysm); digestive system diseases; and mental disorders.

Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of traffic accidents and both unintentional and intentional injuries.

Also, alcohol consumption leads to many social issues such as negatively impacting family relationships, reducing or losing work capacity, job loss, violence, unsafe sexual activities, and legal problems.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health (MOH), alcohol consumption among those over 15 years old in Vietnam has gradually increased over the years. In 2005, consumption was 2.9 liters of alcohol per person per year, while the figure soared to 7.9 liters in 2018 and 2019.

Alcohol is the second-highest risk factor among the top 10 causes of disability and death in Vietnam. Alcoholic drinks are behind 30 percent of public disorder cases and 33.7 percent of family violence incidents. Alcohol consumption exacerbates gender and socioeconomic inequality, challenging sustainable poverty reduction efforts.

According to the 2021 non-communicable disease factor survey, the rate of alcohol consumption is high among Vietnamese men, with 64 percent of men and 10 percent of women having consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.

Meanwhile, the age of alcohol initiation is dropping which adversely affects personal health but also has widespread impact on social security, contributing to violence and traffic accidents. 

To address this, appropriate agencies have launched programs to raise community awareness about alcohol's harm and the need to reduce its usage.

The National Assembly on June 14, 2019, passed the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol Harm. The government on October 11, 2024 approved the Communication Project on Preventing and Combating Alcohol Harm to 2030, with the following goals:

- 95 percent of adults are informed about the harms of alcohol and measures to prevent the harms.

- 100 percent of vehicle operators are informed and educated about legal regulations prohibiting drinking while driving.

- 100 percent of educational institutions conduct communication campaigns on preventing alcohol harm among students.

- 95 percent of alcohol business establishments and 90 percent of households and individuals producing traditional alcohol receive information and guidance on legal regulations for preventing alcohol harm and other related legal requirements.

Vo Thu