Anyone pressuring others to drink alcoholic beverages or drinking before or during school and working time will be subject to administrative fines from VND1-3 (US$43-130) from November 15, according to a decree on prevention and control of alcohol-related harm.

The Ministry of Health organized a meeting on Monday to introduce the new decree, which levies the highest fine at VND50 million ($2,162) on individuals and VND100 million ($4,312) on organizations.

According to the decree, warning or fines of VND200,000-500,000 ($9-22) will be imposed on alcohol rule violators aged from 16 to 18.

Drinking at prohibited locations and inviting others to drink will be fined from VND500,000 to VND1 million.

Those drinking before or during school, work and break time and forcing others to drink will be fined VND1-3 miliion.

People who sell liquor on e-commerce platforms but fail to meet legal requirements will face a sanction from VND10 ($432) to VND20 million ($865), with their trading license to be suspended for one to three months.

Violations in liquor advertising and promotion will be slapped with heavy fines.

Organization leaders will be fined VND3-5 million ($130-216) if failing to handle and punish violators at their workplaces.

The decree enforces the law on prevention and control of alcohol-related harm, according to Tran Thi Trang, deputy head of the Department of Legal Affairs under the health ministry.

It stipulates more public places prohibiting alcohol use such as parks, cinemas, and cultural and sports establishments.

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