Illicit alcohol accounts for 63% of Vietnam consumption
Illicit and unregulated alcohol accounts for 63% of consumption in Vietnam, said Nguyen Van Viet, chairman of the Vietnam Alcohol-Beer-Beverage Association (VBA).
Such problems have led to socioeconomic impacts on consumers, businesses, and the state budget, while the current legal framework has yet to fully address the issue, Viet added at a Tuesday roundtable hosted by the VBA and the Wine & Spirits Sector Committee of EuroCham.
Almost 4,000 smuggled bottles of whisky recently found by police in Long An province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Industry & Trade newspaper.
Nguyen Duc Le, an official from the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance, noted high profits from the illegal trade of alcoholic products and consumer willingness to purchase items without relevant certificates have led to these troubles.
He added that in 2022, the force dealt with 336 violations related to wine and issued penalties of VND4.27 billion ($182,200), and 101 wrongdoings related to beer with penalties of VND1.1 billion ($47,100).
There are 548,000 deaths or so annually in Vietnam, of which nearly 40,000 cases, or over 7%, are related to alcohol consumption, according to the Ministry of Health.
A Ministry of Industry and Trade report showed that Vietnamese people consumed 300 million liters of wine and spirit annually, of which only 15-20% are regulated.
Beer production posted a growth of 35.3%, the highest among all industrial sectors, to 6.11 billion liters in 2022, according to the General Statistics Office.
- Related News
- Read More
Five Vietnam pilgrimage destinations perfect for spiritual seekers: Booking.com
Booking.com, the world's leading digital travel company, has suggested some destinations in Vietnam for those seeking spiritual enrichment and a chance for reflection and connection, including Ba Den mountain and Bai Dinh pagoda.
Travel - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:59 am GMT+7
Malaysia takes the lead in data center development
Malaysia is making efforts to align with the global trend towards digitalization, which is driving demand for data centers, cloud computing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Southeast Asia - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:57 am GMT+7
WB sees Thai fiscal risks mounting due to spending surge
Thailand’s pursuit of an expansionary fiscal policy strategy to propel growth faces the risk of rising costs for elderly care, investment and the need to keep public debt level to sustainable levels, according to the World Bank.
Southeast Asia - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:41 am GMT+7
Vietnam mining stocks rally amid global trade tension
Shares of Vietnam’s mining companies have rallied since early this month, fueled by heightened global trade tensions following the start of Donald Trump’s second term as the U.S. president.
Finance - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:36 am GMT+7
Online purchase below VND2 mln may be exempt from Vietnam import tax
The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has proposed exempting goods purchased through e-commerce platforms worth no more than VND2 million ($78) from import tariff, with an annual purchase limit of VND96 million ($3,781).
Finance - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Malaysia expected to remain magnet for FDI
Malaysia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to remain robust in the long term, but there could be repercussions in the short term as investors hold back on their investment decisions amid heightened global uncertainties.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 9:01 pm GMT+7
Laos to build $1.9 bln wind power plant to export electricity to Vietnam
The Lao Government and Chitchareune Construction - a Lao builder will jointly build the 1,200 MW Nong wind power plant, with an investment of $1.9 billion, to export electricity to Vietnam.
Energy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 8:46 pm GMT+7
Malaysia needs more funding for semiconductor sector
Malaysia needs more funding for the implementation of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) to enhance its competitiveness with neighboring countries, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:31 pm GMT+7
Thailand considers easing rules on income from overseas
Thailand’s government is considering easing personal income tax rules for individuals’ overseas income to encourage the remittance of those funds back into the country, said a senior official.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:29 pm GMT+7
Nissan to close factory in Thailand
Japanese automaker Nissan has announced plans to close one of its two automobile factories in Thailand this year, following the collapse of merger talks with Honda.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:10 pm GMT+7
Vietcombank leads Vietnamese banks in 2024 pre-tax profit
Vietcombank reported a pre-tax profit of VND42.2 trillion ($1.66 billion) last year, ranking as the most profitable Vietnamese lender, according to the Vietnam Banking Association (VNBA).
Banking - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:04 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading trade firm Hapro appoints new general director
Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), a leading producer and exporter of agricultural produces in Vietnam, has appointed deputy general director Duong Thi Lam as general director, effective from March 1, 2025.
Companies - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 2:18 pm GMT+7
Private Vietnamese lender DongA Bank renamed Vikki Bank
DongA Bank, a private lender in Vietnam, has changed its name to Vikki Bank, with approval from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
Banking - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 10:59 am GMT+7
Korea's SK Group seeks partnerships in LNG-fired power projects in Vietnam
South Korean chaebol SK Group seeks to jointly build LNG-fired power plants in Vietnam and then develop facilities utilizing electricity generated by those power plants.
Energy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 9:26 am GMT+7
World’s largest shipping line MSC docks at southern Vietnam port
Phuoc An Port, the largest seaport in Dong Nai province, on Thursday welcomed the first ship from MSC, the world’s largest shipping line, opening up significant opportunities for boosting international trade in Vietnam’s southern region.
Economy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 8:17 am GMT+7
Vietnamese chemical-pharmaceutical industry eyes yearly growth of 8-11% by 2045
Vietnam's chemical-pharmaceutical industry is expected to achieve an annual growth rate of 8-11% by 2045, according to a newly-approved program on the industry’s development until 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Southeast Asia - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 11:28 pm GMT+7
