Over recent months, many quarrels and fights have occurred at local bars, and there have been many drink-driving accidents.

A driver undergoes a breathalyser test

To solve this deeply concerning issue, the municipal Police Department has recently proposed that the city authorities should ban the sale of alcohol anywhere in the city after 10.00pm each day. 

The ban has been proposed as a strong measure to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol abuse in the community, such as traffic accidents, conflicts and violence.  It should help to improve traffic safety, and security as a whole, to make Da Nang a more peaceful city.

However, there is now a strong debate and multi-directional feedback about the proposed ban amongst the general public. 

A freelance journalist, whose penname is Tuyet Minh, from the DA NANG Newspaper remarked that the city is aiming to develop into a key socio-economic and cultural hub in the central region.  Greater efforts will be made to make tourism one of the city’s spearhead economic sectors, with a focus on promoting tourism cooperation with the provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam, the central highlands, and other ASEAN member nations.  He added that the city leaders have already proposed that more evening entertainment areas should be developed in the city in order to make Da Nang more attractive to both domestic and foreign visitors.

In reality, drinking alcohol is socially acceptable in Viet Nam as well as in most other parts of the world.   Beer and wine, therefore, are indispensable beverages sold at local bars, restaurants and eateries.  In particular, many foreign tourists like drinking alcohol whilst enjoying delicious seafood dishes. 

It is interesting to note that the Ha Noi authorities have just recently decided to lift their long-standing ban on late night bars and pubs in the capital.  Such establishments will now be allowed to stay open after midnight to allow visitors to comfortably enjoy their free time late at night.

The journalist stressed the need to make plans for establishing specialised entertainment, drinking and eating areas, and special attention should be paid to issuing and policing regulations on the sale of alcohol, including minimum age limits.  Furthermore, stricter penalties should be imposed on drivers found with blood alcohol concentrations exceeding the permitted levels, and especially those found repeatedly committing alcohol-related violations.

He spoke highly of programmes in other foreign countries which offer drinkers a safe journey home.  At restaurants, bars or pubs, drunken customers are recommended not to drive their vehicles after drinking alcohol, and to instead take taxis home.  Free-of-charge overnight parking at these places is also offered to customers and the safety of their vehicles overnight is ensured.

On Tuesday, the city’s Traffic Police Division began the implementation of another traffic safety campaign, which runs until 15 September, aiming to ensure local traffic order and safety, especially over the forthcoming National Day (2 September).

Under the campaign, the municipal Police Department is mobilising all traffic police officers to be on duty along local streets to regulate the traffic and ensure the smooth movement of vehicles.  Also, various measures will be taken to try to reduce the number of road traffic accidents, ease traffic congestion, and deal with alcohol-related violations by road users.

Fines of up to 18 million VND, instead of the 15 million VND maximum before, are now being imposed on car drivers with alcohol levels of over 0.4mg per litre of breath, or 80mg per 100ml of blood.  They will also have their driving licences temporarily revoked for between 4 and 6 months.

Meanwhile, motorcycle drivers with the same alcohol levels will be fined between 3 and 4 million VND, and have their driving licences temporarily revoked for up to 5 months.

The number of patrols and checks will be increased between 7.00pm and 11.00pm on National Highway 1A, the local 14B Highway, the Hai Van-Tuy Loan ring road, major streets near restaurants, eateries and bars, and at local accident-prone hotspots.