Despite their differences, industries such as commercial milk formula, tobacco, alcohol, and online gambling share a troubling similarity: the use of exploitative marketing tactics that pose serious risks to public health and wellbeing.

In June 2025, Viet Nam passed a landmark Excise Tax Law that will progressively increase taxes on alcohol products to 90% by 2031. This is a significant step for a country that ranks 5th in alcohol consumption in Asia and 44th globally. But price is only part of the solution.

An innovative tool that uses artificial intelligence technology to scan the internet, in particular social media, has detected tens of thousands of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes since its launch.