Speaking at the opening of the seminar, journalist Nguyen Van Chuong - Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Vietnam Beverage Magazine said that recently, the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) has issued a warning that a number of provinces and cities have recorded many emergency cases related to the use of unsafe alcohol, alcohol of unknown origin, alcohol with high methanol content, including many deaths.
In total, from the beginning of 2023 to now, there have been nearly 70 cases of food poisoning, including alcohol poisoning, affecting 870 people, of whom 14 died. These figures once again warn of the dangers of alcohol of unknown origin and alcohol with high methanol content to human health and life.
Journalist Nguyen Van Chuong - Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of Vietnam Beverage Magazine spoke at the seminar.
Journalist Nguyen Van Chuong shared: “According to statistics from the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA), Vietnam consumes an average of over 300 million liters of alcohol per year, of which only about 15 - 20% is alcohol produced by factories that meet industrial scale requirements and fully fulfill their tax responsibilities to the state. These figures show that not only is the state budget losing revenue, causing harm to consumers' health, but it also directly affects the production and business of legitimate enterprises. This is also the reason why today, Vietnam Beverage Magazine organizes the Workshop: Alcohol of unknown origin: Current situation and solutions”.
Journalist Nguyen Van Chuong affirmed: Vietnam Beverage Magazine, the mouthpiece of the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association, representing the voice of the Beverage industry, affirmed that it will always accompany alcohol businesses in the field of communication to solve the difficult problem of unmanaged alcohol consumption in Vietnam, the situation of fake alcohol of unknown origin flooding the market, as well as discuss solutions for businesses to overcome challenges and continue to affirm brand strength.
Sharing about the history and development of the wine industry in many countries around the world, historian Duong Trung Quoc - General Secretary of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, Editor-in-Chief of the Past and Present Magazine said: Along with the history of cultural development, in many countries this drink is known as "national wine", if utilized, it can build a brand for the country.
In Vietnam, many localities and provinces have built their own wine brands. They know how to process wine to ensure its quality is safe... however, to develop long-term, it is necessary to have knowledge and produce delicious and safe wines for consumers. Producers and state management agencies need to convey to consumers about safe wine and proper use. In addition, learn from other countries, countries with quality wine lines and world-famous brands.
“In addition, the values of traditional wine production history are preserved. In our country, we also need to build a space to preserve and promote what our ancestors left behind. The quality of the products needs to be preserved, and gradually build public trust,” historian Duong Trung Quoc added.
Mr. Luong Xuan Dung - Chief of Office of Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Luong Xuan Dung - Chief of Office of the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association said: There should be strong communication solutions so that people know the health risks of using alcohol of unknown origin, alcohol that is not managed by the state. In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen state management, even the entire political system needs to get involved. There should be stronger sanctions to punish organizations and individuals who deliberately violate.
Assessing the current alcohol and beer market, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phi Nga, Inspector of the General Department of Market Management (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that the production and trade of smuggled, fake, and poor-quality alcohol and beer still exists, is complicated, and the methods and tricks are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. The situation of smuggled alcohol and beer without invoices and documents still occurs in the market, and these smuggled goods are brought into Vietnam through the Southwest and Central borders.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Phi Nga, Controller of the General Department of Market Management (Ministry of Industry and Trade).
In addition, at the end of the year, Lunar New Year, and summer, when the demand for alcohol and beer increases sharply, the amount of smuggled, fake, and poor quality alcohol and beer on the market increases. These products are mainly consumed in restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs, or rural areas.
The seminar was attended by food experts, doctors, scientists, beverage manufacturers and representatives of state management agencies.
Also at the seminar, delegates also proposed many solutions to implement special consumption tax on beverages, including alcohol production and trading. How to create equality among alcohol production and trading enterprises. Alcohol of unknown origin is often harmful to health. The issue of managing smuggled alcohol was also shared by many delegates. In addition, delegates also gave suggestions on implementing regulations on alcohol advertising in the Advertising Law.
Receiving the opinions of the delegates, journalist Nguyen Van Chuong said that today's discussion had analyses by experts, doctors, scientists, and managers on the current situation of alcohol of unknown origin. The delegates assessed its consequences on the health of consumers, the inability to control alcohol of unknown origin affects the budget revenue, and invisibly creates unhealthy competition in the market.
The opinions of the delegates at the seminar will help the media agencies have more information and arguments to communicate to consumers for awareness and choice.
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