VietNamNet Bridge – The website of the government of Ky Anh district in the central province of Ha Tinh recently posted a dispatch signed by the District Chairman, Nguyen Van Bong, encouraging people, restaurants, and hotels in the district to use Saigon beer and Kim Son mineral water.

In the document uploaded on the website on August 25, Ky Anh District Chairman Nguyen Van Bong requested the heads of state agencies in the district to give priority to drinks produced in the district, including Saigon beer from the Saigon - Ha Tinh Brewery, and Son Kim mineral water and other products.

The district chairman also suggested that owners of restaurants, hotels, motels, and companies in Ky Anh district to give priority to encourage customers to use these products.

Explaining the incident, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung, Vice Chairman of Ky Anh district, said the official document was issued to implement the policy of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province on encouraging people to use Vietnamese products, promoting local production.

"That's not advertising for these products, but encouragement of Vietnamese people to use Vietnamese products," Hung said.

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam is the 3rd largest beer consumption market in Asia after Japan and China, with around 3 billion liters of beer consumed in 2013. In the last 10 years, the country’s beer consumption increased by more than 200 percent.

Alcohol and beer are among the 10 top causes of death worldwide. Statistics from the National Institute for Health Policy show that 4.4% of Vietnamese people suffer illness as a result of alcohol and beer.

According to a survey of health of Vietnamese adolescents (14-15 years), 69% of males and 28% of females have drunk beer and wine.

The Ministry of Health is drafting a bill on prevention of effects of alcohol and beer abuse, proposing to ban sale of alcohol and beer after 10pm.

Le Ha