Violating alcohol concentration, using New Year's Eve as an excuse still cannot escape punishment

As the Lunar New Year approaches, year-end parties, gatherings, and consumption of beer and alcohol increase. Many people continue to drive after consuming alcoholic beverages.

Anticipating that situation, the Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police, has directed local Traffic Police Teams to increase patrols and controls, promptly detect and strictly handle violations related to alcohol concentration.

According to Lao Dong newspaper reporters, in recent days, the traffic police have been very strict in imposing fines, with flexible handling times and locations to cover the entire area and thoroughly handle violations.

At noon on January 12, on Hoang Hoa Tham Street (Ba Dinh District), Mr. T.H.G (born in 1962) was discovered by the working group of Traffic Police Team No. 2 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) with an alcohol concentration of level 1 (under 0.25 mg/L of breath).

In his presentation to the working group, Mr. G said that he had just attended a year-end party at a relative's house. Because he had only had a few drinks, only about 3 cups, he subjectively drove his motorbike home. For the above violation, Mr. G was administratively fined 2 - 3 million VND and had 4 points deducted from his driver's license.

A case of driving an electric motorbike was also discovered by the Traffic Police Team No. 2 to have violated the alcohol concentration level of 0.159 mg/L of breath.

Accordingly, Mr. P.A.T (born in 1963) was riding an electric bicycle to return home after a year-end party with friends. When stopped by the traffic police, Mr. T felt surprised because he thought riding an electric motorbike would not violate the law.

Or on the evening of January 11, on the Southern axis road (section through Thanh Ha Urban Area, Thanh Oai District), the working group of Road Traffic Police Team No. 10 (Hanoi Traffic Police Department) also discovered a case of Mr. T.M.H (residing in Hoang Mai, Hanoi) driving a motorbike, violating the alcohol concentration at 0.037 mg/L of breath.

According to the person sitting in the back seat, the two had just attended a year-end party. Before driving, the person sitting in the back seat had reminded him that he should not drive after drinking alcohol. However, because he thought his house was close, Mr. H still drove home on his motorbike.

For the above violation, Mr. T.M.H was administratively fined 2 - 3 million VND and had 4 points deducted from his driving license.

Statistics from the Hanoi Traffic Police Department show that from January 1 to 10, 2025, throughout the city, the traffic police force detected and handled 1,826 cases of alcohol concentration violations. Compared to the total number of violations, alcohol concentration still accounts for a high proportion (the total number of violations in 10 days is 8,435).

According to Major Mai Xuan Tu - Officer of Traffic Police Team No. 2, the act of driving a vehicle with alcohol concentration in the blood or breath always poses a risk of traffic accidents. The handling of this violation has been strongly and vigorously implemented by the Traffic Police force nationwide, so it has brought about positive results, changing the awareness of most people in not driving on the road after consuming alcohol.

"However, the change in people's awareness does not mean that alcohol concentration violations have ended. In reality, there is still a small group of people who intentionally violate the law, especially at the end of the year," Major Mai Xuan Tu informed.

During the period before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2025, Hanoi Traffic Police will increase inspections of alcohol concentration violations to prevent traffic accidents.

Traffic police recommend that people strictly comply with traffic safety laws, do not drive after drinking alcohol, ensure safety for yourself and other road users, and together welcome a happy and safe Tet.