The draft law imposes bans on advertising, promotions and sponsorship programs for alcoholic products containing an alcohol volume of over 15%, while the prevailing Law on Advertisement does not mention these bans, Duc stated, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong Online.

The draft law also prohibits seven cases of alcohol advertisements. Meanwhile, these advertising activities are not banned in the 2005 Commercial Law, the 2012 Advertisement Law and other laws.

Speaking at a conference titled “Complete law on contracts and resolve disputes through trade mediation and arbitrators,” co-organized by the Ministry of Justice and JICA, the lawyer cited the draft law’s Article 10 on the control of alcohol promotions, which stipulates “Organizations and individuals must not use beer or liquids containing less than 15% alcohol as prizes or give them as promotional gifts to consumers, except at food fairs.”

He remarked that the regulation was confusing. Besides this, given wording in this provision, Article 10 allows the promotion of alcoholic products to citizens aged below 18 at food fairs.

Meanwhile, the 2005 Commercial Law, the 2012 Price Law and the 2018 Competition Law do not impose bans on alcohol promotion; these bans are only valid for minors.

As for the alcohol sponsorship programs, makers and traders of beer and liquids containing less than 15% alcohol are subject to prevailing regulations when organizing sponsorship activities, according to the draft law. They must not mention names, display images or reveal information on alcoholic products or offer alcoholic products during sponsorship activities.

Commenting on the regulation, the lawyer remarked that lawmakers should fully define sponsorship and clarify whether it is considered an advertising or promotional activity or simply part of a trade promotion activity, in order to create a legal framework for keeping or removing regulations on alcohol sponsorship programs.

SGT