Table 2.
Comparison of “WHO’s five best buys” alcohol policy interventions among eight Asia countries in 2014 [40]
| Policies and interventions | China | India | Japan | South Korea | Malaysia | Mongolia | Thailand | Vietnam | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restrict access to retailed alcohol | Minimum drinking age | ✘ | 21 or higher in most states | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | |
| Restrictions for on−/off-premise sales | Hours/days | ✘ / ✘ | Sub national | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | |
| Places/density | ✔ / ✔ | Sub national | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔/ ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ||
| Raise taxes/prices on alcohol | Alcohol excise or tax | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Legally binding alcohol sales promotion / sponsorship | ✘/ ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | ||
| Enforce bans on alcohol advertising | Advertising / product placement | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✔ / ✔ | |
| Enforce drink driving laws | Sobriety check-points | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| RBT / BAC level | ✔ / 0.02 | ✔ / 0.03 | ✘ / 0.03 | ✘ / 0.05 | ✔ / 0.08 | ✔ / 0.05 | ✘ / 0.05 | ✘ / 0.00 | ||
| Offer brief advice for hazardous drinking | Number of standard drinks | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Alcohol content displayed on containers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Health warning labels on advertisements / container | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | ✘ / ✘ | ✔ / ✔ | ✘ / ✘ | ||
“✘” is no such policy and “✔” is yes. “Best buys” are WHO recommended the most cost-effective alcohol policy interventions to tackle harmful use of alcohol