January 10, 2020 by Vietnam Weekly
On January 1, new laws came into effect banning people from driving any vehicle (even bicycles) after consuming any amount of alcohol. Punishments related to these laws were made far stricter as well: drivers caught drunk driving can lose their license for up to two years, and face much larger fines than previously.
The impact so far has been dramatic. Tuoi Tre reported that police fined 615 drivers US$35,300 nationwide in the first two days of the month. Roadside restaurants and bars, usually packed with drinkers on any given night, are reporting huge drops in business, and some have responded by offering free overnight parking, discounts on Grab or taxi rides, and even rides home from employees. VnExpress reported on one car service company in Hanoi that can't even keep up with demand.
There is little public stigma against drinking and driving in Vietnam - it's common for a group of friends or colleagues to pull up at a restaurant on their bikes, down plenty of beers, and carry on home on their bikes. Some people have changed that behavior practically overnight, though it remains to be seen if enforcement of the new laws remains strict, especially given the reputation of traffic police here.
Some, however, are already predicting a drop in Vietnam's beer market this year, which has been seeing explosive growth. A hospital in Hanoi, meanwhile, reported a major reduction in the number of patients admitted following traffic accidents caused by drunk driving.
This topic has been absolutely all over domestic media since the 1st, and there has been plenty of criticism that the new regulations are too harsh. I do think it's a bit wild that you risk losing your licence for up to 24 months even after having one beer, but the carefree attitude many (both Vietnamese and foreigners) have toward drinking and driving needs to change, especially given how easy it is to book a ride through Grab. (Of course, actual public transportation would be nice, but let's not kid ourselves.) With Tet and its attendant holiday binge drinking approaching, this will be extremely interesting to keep an eye on.
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