Ban on drink driving yet to be finalized

NA deputies at the meeting this afternoon, June 3, were asked to provide feedback on a ban on drink driving and a ban on drinking over the limit in accordance with laws on traffic safety. The two suggested bans received 48.76% and 49.59% of respective votes.

Some deputies suggested conducting a second poll for the ban on drink driving, as the two suggested bans they were informed of prior to the meeting were not the same as those being presented today.

NA vice chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, who hosted the poll, approved a second vote. However, the results were roughly the same.

Aside from the ban on drink driving, NA deputies gave feedback on two other controversial regulations of the draft law: time restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site drinking and the advertising of these products.

Again, lower than 50% of the lawmakers were in favor of the restriction on the sale of alcoholic products for on-site drinking from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

The restriction on nighttime sales of alcoholic products for on-site consumption was only recently returned to the draft law. Previously, it had been eliminated from the draft law as the NA’s Standing Committee had said it was not feasible.

The ban on advertising alcoholic products prior to, during and after programs for children between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. gained over 72% of the vote. Therefore, it will be included in the draft law.

If the ban on drink driving, regardless of alcohol content, and the restriction on nighttime sales of alcoholic drinks are approved for the draft law, the law on preventing and combating the harmful effects of liquor and beer would be greatly improved. The number of fatal traffic accidents and consequences of drink driving have reached critical status recently, rousing public ire.