Laos Establishes December 19 as National Alcohol Prohibition Day

National Prohibition Day Declared

The government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic has officially designated December 19 as the annual Alcoholic Beverages Prohibition Day. This declaration, announced on December 18, mandates a nationwide ban on the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on this specific day. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the enforcement of the existing Law on Alcoholic Control, which was initially adopted in 2014.

Objectives and Enforcement

The primary objectives behind establishing this annual prohibition day are to safeguard public health and mitigate the various harms associated with alcohol consumption. Officials stated that the day is intended to raise public awareness regarding the health and safety risks linked to alcohol and to foster greater compliance with the nation's alcohol control legislation. Authorities have instructed provincial and city health offices, alongside other relevant agencies, to intensify monitoring and enforcement activities starting from 2025.

The Law on Alcoholic Control (2014)

The foundational Law on Alcoholic Control, enacted in 2014, outlines principles, regulations, and measures for the control, management, monitoring, and supervision of the production, import, sales, and advertisement of alcoholic beverages. Its overarching goal is to protect citizens' health and well-being, as well as their assets, from the negative impacts of alcohol, thereby aiming to decrease unhealthy consumption, wasteful spending, and other detrimental effects. Recent assessments of this law have highlighted challenges in consistent oversight and noted the negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption on public health, accident rates, and crime rates.

Broader Context of Alcohol Regulation

This new prohibition day comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Lao government to regulate alcohol. For instance, the capital city of Vientiane previously implemented a ban on alcohol sales before 4 PM in 2018. Furthermore, recent incidents involving the deaths of several tourists due to suspected methanol poisoning from tainted alcohol, specifically 'Tiger Vodka' and 'Tiger Whisky', have underscored the critical need for stringent alcohol safety and control measures across the country. These events have led to bans on specific brands in certain areas and heightened warnings for both residents and visitors regarding alcohol consumption.