The conference dubbed “Sharing world experiences in the prevention andfight against alcohol abuse” was attended by representatives from theWorld Health Organisation (WHO), the International Health PolicyProgramme of Thailand and the University of Massey, New Zealand.
During the course of the workshop, participants discussed and exchangednational experiences in pricing and taxing alcoholic products,advertisement regulations, policies on reducing and relocating thealcohol distribution outlets, regulations on the age of persons to bequalified for using alcohol, etc.
At present, the world alcohol consumption is steadily on the rise and has become more prevalent among youth.
In Vietnam, the average age for people to start using alcohol hoversaround 24 years of age, whereas in some Western countries the age is 15.
New Zealand participants brought up their experience in reducing thefatality rate due to alcohol (from 44 percent in 1990 to 26 percent in2001) by conducting random and more flexible breath-tests for driversand accelerating communication programmes on the dangers of drinkdriving through the mass media.
Meanwhile, Thai representatives suggested a measure that has alreadybeen taken in Vietnam , calling for people to not use alcohol duringcommunity events such as funerals, weddings or other types offestivities./.