(Title Image: BBC Scotland)
Last week, a consultation opened on the Welsh Government’s plans for a minimum-per-unit price for alcohol sold by retailers in Wales.
The Minimum Alcohol Price Act was approved by an overwhelming majority of AMs in June 2018 and the Welsh Government are proposing to set the minimum price at 50p-per-unit, subject to consultation.
Based on Sheffield University research, it’s estimated the proposed 50p price will cut harmful drinking by half and cut alcohol-related hospital admissions by 1,300.
Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth), said:
“The higher the level of MUP that is chosen, the greater the proportion of purchased alcohol that is captured and the greater the estimated impact on alcohol-related harms.
However, there is a trade-off, as there is also a greater impact on moderate drinkers, particularly moderate drinkers in the more deprived groups. After careful consideration and on balance, my preference is that the initial level of the MUP should be set at 50p. But we will now gather views from individuals, businesses, public bodies and interested parties about the Welsh Government’s preferred price of 50p.”
The consultation is open until 21st December 2018 and the details are available here.
