When taking office, President Tabare Vásquez of Uruguay declared a 'war on alcohol' and emphasized the need to regulate the alcohol market. With the help of bipartisan support in Congress, he led a three-pronged campaign to combat alcohol abuse: raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol, including educational programs, and enforcing a law against drunk driving. After several attempts, in 2015, he succeeded in passing a law that prohibits drivers from operating any vehicle with a blood alcohol level over 0.0 grams per liter. Drivers caught under the influence face a suspension of their driving privileges and a fine of approximately $460.
Traffic in UruguayThe legal drinking age in Hungary is 18, and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and spirits are widely available, including in grocery stores, convenience shops, and discount chains. However, you won’t typically see anyone drinking alcohol on public transport late at night, as it’s illegal to do so if caught. Drinking on the streets is also largely ignored unless someone is causing a disturbance. It’s important to avoid carrying alcohol in your vehicle, and definitely don’t think about driving after even a single beer. Hungary enforces a zero-tolerance policy for drivers, requiring a breath alcohol level of 0.0, and you must comply if stopped by the police.
Police conducting breath alcohol checks with public transport drivers in HungaryAs of late January 2020, nearly a month after Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc signed Decree No. 100/2019/NĐ-CP on December 30, 2019, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, Vietnam implemented much higher penalties for traffic violations. Vietnam has become one of the countries with the strictest alcohol-related driving laws in the world. Drivers found with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or breath alcohol level over 0 will face significant fines and potential license suspension.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 30% of traffic accidents in Vietnam are caused by alcohol consumption. In 2016, there were 79,000 alcohol-related deaths. Following the stricter alcohol laws, AFP reports that by January 22, 2020, fatal accidents had decreased by about 13% compared to the previous two weeks. Although this is a positive sign, the alcohol market in Vietnam faced challenges with declining sales throughout 2020.
Breath alcohol testing became common in Vietnam starting in early 2020In late 2011, the Kathmandu Traffic Police in Nepal identified one of the major causes of accidents and began enforcing strict laws against drinking and driving. Every night, around 35 random checkpoints are set up around the valley, doubling on weekends and during festivals when people are more likely to drink. Police officers, equipped with breathalyzers, will often simply 'sniff' drivers' breath to check for alcohol. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is measured differently around the world, but in Nepal, the policy is zero tolerance—any detectable alcohol in a driver's breath is enough for the police to take action. Offenders are fined approximately 1,000 Rs and their driver's license is confiscated until they attend a mandatory police course on the dangers of driving under the influence. With each arrest, offenders' licenses are marked, and after five marks, their driving privileges are revoked. This campaign has significantly reduced traffic accidents, though restaurant and bar owners have reported financial losses since the law was enforced. Despite a serious shortage of police manpower—only around 1,000 traffic officers managing 750,000 vehicles in Kathmandu—accident rates dropped by 16% between July 2012 and July 2013, with fatalities cut in half.
Source: Nepal Times (https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/getting-over-the-influence,1134)
Heavy traffic congestion in Nepal
Police face challenges managing the large number of vehicle operatorsIn the Czech Republic, there is zero tolerance for anyone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Czech police regularly conduct checks on suspected impaired drivers and have the authority to test any driver at any time. These checks even occur late at night. If alcohol or drugs are detected in your system through a breathalyzer test, the consequences could include up to three years in prison and fines ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 CZK. Refusing a breath test results in a fine equivalent to being caught driving under the influence. If you offend a public official or cause an accident while impaired, your license will be revoked for at least one year, and you’ll face fines starting at 10,000 CZK. If involved in an accident causing damages under 50,000 CZK and no injuries, you may settle privately with the other parties involved. Otherwise, you must call the police to file a report and undergo a breath alcohol test.
Source: Just Landed (Czech Republic - Travel & Leisure, https://www.justlanded.com/english/Czech-Republic/Czech-Republic-Guide/Travel-Leisure/Driving-laws)
Strict alcohol testing in the Czech RepublicIn Slovakia, drivers are required to have a blood alcohol content of 0.0% when operating a vehicle. Fines for drunk driving range from 200 to 1,000 Euros, with a driving ban of up to five years. If a driver is found with even 0.01% alcohol or other substances in their system, or refuses to take a test, it may be considered a criminal offense. Drunk driving may result in a prison sentence of up to one year.
Source: https://www.slovakia.com/travel/car/
Winter traffic in Slovakia
Traffic police in Slovakia
Buzz
