A legal minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol has been introduced in Wales.
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act was passed in June 2018 with the aim of reducing the around 500 alcohol-related deaths a year in Wales.
The Act came into effect on March 2 and will see, for example, a two litre bottle of Strongbow cider now costs £5, rather than £3.50.
The Welsh Government has said alcohol leads to nearly 60,000 hospital admissions a year and costs NHS Wales an estimated £159 million.
To mark the new law coming into effect, Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething visited an alcohol care team at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital.
He said: “We know when alcohol is cheap and readily available, harmful drinking increases. The minimum price won’t affect moderate drinkers who may be worried about the price of a pint going up.
“The aim of this legislation is to reduce the harm being done by those most at risk of alcohol abuse.”
Dr Sarah Aitken, Director of Public Health for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “We see the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on people’s health every day.
“Aside from damaging the liver, alcohol affects the heart, kidneys and brain. It impacts on hospital services, and on people’s lives more generally.
“The intervention of minimum pricing will reduce the harm done by alcohol, it’s an important step and will hopefully make people think about their relationship with alcohol.”
Questions however have been raised over whether or not the law will help ‘middle class’ problem drinkers who would be able to afford any price increase.
In Scotland, where a minimum price was introduced in May 2018, there has been a reduction in the annual volume of pure alcohol in drinks sold, and a fall in the volume of alcohol sold at low prices.
The new law has a ‘break clause’ within it, meaning the Welsh Government could repeal it in 2024.
I see TESCO are already profiteering by raising prices on lines which were already being sold above the minimum price threshold. Ha Ha Ha …………. would never have seen that coming!!!!!!
I am struggling as an alcoholic and this new bill when I am trying to get better if I have withdrawal symptoms will kill me quicker than a wean off process.
Unfortunately, alcoholics will always find a way, regardless of the price. It’s an illness that can’t be treated simply by attempting to make it less affordable. Alcoholics, just like any addict, will beg, borrow and steal to maintain their habit. This will hit pubs badly, just like the smoking ban did.