Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Aspart of a new decree, actors on TV or in film will only be able to drinkalcohol in scenes which depict historical figures or condemn this behaviour.

The Government’s Decree 24details a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of AlcoholicHarm, which restricts images of the consumption of alcohol in cinematic,theatrical and TV shows for viewers below 18.

Scenes in which an actor isdrinking must not violate prohibitions such as forcing others to drink,depicting drinkers under 18 years old or employing labourers under 18 toparticipate in producing, trading and driving after drinking.

In addition, the films must notshow images of actors drinking alcohol at health or educational centres;rehabilitation centres, centres for social protection, working places of stateagencies, parks, bus stops, cinemas or theatres.

The decree also clarifies anumber of other prohibitions, such as praising organisations and individualsfor obtaining success from alcohol production and trading. The scenes of actorsdrinking alcohol for artistic purposes are only allowed in depicting historicalfigures, a certain historical period or criticising and condemning drinkingalcohol.

According to Decree 24, theadvertisement of drinks with less than 5.5 percent alcohol by volume screenedfrom 6pm to 9pm daily only applies to products of sponsors of regional,continental or world sporting events held in Vietnam.

The advertisement of drinkswith below 15 percent alcohol by volume must contain warnings; for example,drinking alcohol might cause traffic accidents, affect foetal health and peopleunder 18 must not drink alcohol.

To advertise on radio ortelevision, these warnings must be clearly read at the same speed as othercontent. Those on online newspapers or social networks must have visiblecolours, accounting for at least ten percent of the advertising area.

The government requiresbusinesses to have measures to prevent people under 18 from accessing alcoholon social networks and online newspapers. Enterprises selling alcohol onlinemust run software to check the age of buyers, ensuring they are over 18.

In June 2019, the NationalAssembly passed the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcoholic Harm.

Barrier to creativity?

However, the restriction ofdrinking scenes in films has not received the support of many Vietnamesedirectors, who are concerned it might restrict the artistic creativity of thefilmmakers.

“Decree 24 is still ambiguousand contains many limitations,” said director Phan Dang Di in an interview with Phu Nu HCM City (HCM City Women) newspaper.

“Wine and beer exist in dailyactivities, so will the films will be true to life when the drinking scenes areindispensable but they are removed? For example, the scene of a couple drinkingwine on their wedding night – which is not intended to criticise thebehaviour.”

He said that the restriction ondrinking scenes would cause difficulties for directors, such as how to portraya wedding scene in the countryside without wine, a scene in a bar, or a meetingbetween gangsters.

“If there are no more explicitprovisions, Decree 24 will continue to restrict cinematic creativity, puttingpressure on filmmakers and the culture management authority,” the director of Bi, Don’t Be Afraid added.

Director Luu Trong Ninhasserted that he would comply with the law but stressed the need to clarify therestrictions mentioned in the decree.

“Not only Vietnam, manycountries also have regulations for scenes involving alcohol; however, theyhave always been obvious about what is forbidden. For example, it would beeasier for the filmmakers if the regulations allowed five percent of alcoholdrinking on screen, filmed the characters drinking in small glasses andspecified the volume of alcohol. Decree 24 still has ambiguous content,” hesaid.

According to director Mai The Hiep,the decree still contains one easy-to-understand point for filmmakers – if thefilm has a scene of drinking alcohol, it must be determined from the beginningthat it is aimed at viewers above 18.

“Decree 24 states that imagesof drinking wine or beer will be restricted if the audience is below 18.Therefore, if a film is required to have such scenes, it should be labelled foraudiences of 18 plus. And vice versa, the directors must consider thoroughlybecause the audience under that age is likely to follow the behaviour ofcharacters,” he said./.