The Welsh Government has welcomed a ruling by the Supreme Court which clears the way for the minimum pricing of alcohol to be introduced in Wales.
However, its success, if passed by AMs, largely depended on a ruling from the Supreme Court. It followed a legal row between the Scottish Government, which also wants to introduce minimum pricing, and a challenge from the Scotch Whisky Association.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething AM said: “We welcome this clear, unanimous judgement that minimum pricing is an appropriate and proportionate means of tackling hazardous and harmful drinking.”
The British Medical Association in Wales has long been a supporter for such a law.
Dr David Bailey, Chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said: “BMA Cymru Wales wholeheartedly welcomes the news that the policy to implement minimum unit pricing of alcohol can proceed in Scotland. Today’s development paves the way for minimum unit pricing to be implemented in Wales.
“Whilst alcohol in moderation forms part of many people’s social behaviour, alcohol excess or addiction can destroy lives.
“Implementing a minimum unit cost will uphold people’s health as a priority in Wales.”
Introducing the proposed new law last month, the Welsh Government said there was an estimated 50,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions a year in Wales, costing the Welsh NHS £120m annually. In 2015, there were 463 alcohol-related deaths in Wales.
It is also estimated that a minimum price of 50p per unit would see 53 fewer deaths and 1,400 fewer hospital admissions in Wales per year.
However, the Welsh Government said it will decide on setting a minimum unit price later, once researchers at Sheffield University had updated their modelling.
I really do not see how this will achieve anything regarding the over consumption of alcohol. Yet again legislation is passed to try and manage a product rather than the problem.
For those who over indulge in alcohol, making a nuisance of themselves in the process, a higher price will not be a barrier. The ones who are comfortably off financially will just pay the extra without a second thought. The poorer problem drinker will still buy the same quantity but go without food or new clothing.
Another example of out of touch politicians pontificating and making fools of themselves in the process. The only people to suffer will be the hard working who like to have a couple of drinks on their time off but cannot afford a visit to the pub or club.
I am really in two minds about this, alcohol puts massive strain on our NHS. Maybe this price hike will work but it may not, i think more research should be done. If the money raised is going to the NHS to help treat people with alcohol problems i think its a good thing but we all know Labour and this is a way of raising taxes to fill their blackhole in their budget.
A tax increase does have an affect on sales of a product for sure, but the stated intention of this rise is to reduce the consumption of problem drinkers. In my view this will not happen, less will be bought by moderate drinkers with a limited budget and that is all.
For quite a few years various governments have taxed 4×4 vehilcles heavily. It is noticible that those who want them still buy them and there are more on the roads than ever. Meanwhile farmers and others who really do need them have to pay up the same as the affluent who use the vehicle for the school run and as a 2 tonne shopping trolley.
Finally, as someone who used to make a lot of wine, it is very easy to make your own alcohol to ‘load up’ on before going out; as is the modern habit with problem drinkers. Just ferment fruit or grain, and you get strong, tax free alcohol. Cheers everybody!
Remove all alcohol licences fro supermarkets and corner shops. One off-licence with a trade limit or a limit on retail space per town.
This will fill up and rejuvenate local pubs and make alcohol consumption sociable as well. A landlord can tell you when you’ve had enough and tell when your to young.
A supermarket will sell you enough booze to drown an elephant.
Now that is something worth doing, which is the opposite of the policies of several governments. A well run pub will politely refuse service to someone who is obviously very drunk, When I was a teenager there were very few off licenced premises and many more pubs. Drinking before you actually got to the pub was almost unheard of.
This led to reasonably responsible drinking, coupled with the forceful attitude of police who were on the street and were willing and able to lock drunks up. People did get drunk then, I am not viewing this through nostalgic rose tinted spectacles but after more than forty years of drinking I am aware that alcohol causes far worse problems now.
Government policy has also led to a generation that does not go out to watch sport, dance, or socialise with a drink but rather one that goes out to get drunk to the point of loss of bladder control; any other activity being a mere incidental.
Couldn’t of put it better myself.