On 07/05/2014, with the support of the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health held a conference for the implementation of the national policy for alcohol related harms prevention up to 2020. The Deputy of The Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long hosted the conference. Representatives of  9/Ministries/ Sectors/ participating in the formulation and implementation of policies, as well as representatives of the People's Committee, Department of Public Security, Department of Commerce, Department of Public Health from 30 provinces / cities, the northern society organizations attended the conference.

Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Representative in Vietnam congratulated Vietnam's efforts in the process of developing and implementing policies aimed at reducing and prevention of alcohol related harms to the health, economic, society by using alcohol for each household and society. Vietnam’s national policy aims to 3 critical solutions include control the demand for using alcohol, control the supply and reduce related harms. The World Health Organization will provide technical assistance to help Vietnam implement national policies as well as completing a comprehensive legal framework on this issue in the near future.

Dr. Nguyen Van Tien - Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Affairs of the National Assembly congratulated the Ministry of Health to take the lead and coordinate with other Ministries/Sectors to build successful policies, creating a premise and base for constructing law for the prevention of alcohol related harms and other alcoholic beverages. Committee of Social Issues also desired that Ministries / Sectors / Agencies will agree and coordinate for the policy implementation.

The Deputy of Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long has suggested the relevant authorities in the People's Committee, the relevant authorities of 30 provinces and cities, the social organizations to actively participate in policy implementation as assigned by the Government.

The participants of the conference was informed by reporters from the Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Ministry of Health; Committee of the National Traffic Safety; Light Industry Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, WHO share and update information on the status of alcohol consumption in the world, in Vietnam and the consequences of alcohol related harms on health, traffic safety and economic, society.

Also at the conference, representatives of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Health introduced the full text of the National Policy on the Prevention of alcohol related harms in 2020 has been approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 244/QD-TTg dated 12/02/2014 and the draft of the action plan for implementing the national policy.