A new law which would ban the sale of cheap alcohol has been passed by the National Assembly for Wales.
The Welsh Government wanted to introduce a minimum price for alcohol arguing it would have a positive impact on people’s health – especially problem drinkers.
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill was passed by Assembly Members on Tuesday, June 19 and is expected to come into force by the summer of next year.
Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan Gething AM said: “Last year alone, there were over 500 alcohol-related deaths and nearly 55,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Wales, with the direct health care costs attributable to alcohol amounting to an estimated £159 million.
“But even more of an issue – is the devastation that lies behind these figures. Devastation for families, impacts on communities, and consequences for our NHS staff and support services – as they all cope with the aftermath of alcohol-related death and disease, every day.”
He added: “This legislation takes a sensible, targeted approach to a very real and evident problem in Wales today. But it will be supported by a range of additional actions being taken forward to support those in need – forming part of the Welsh Government’s wider Substance Misuse Strategy.”
The British Medical Association in Wales, which represents doctors, has given its backing to the new law.
Dr David Bailey, chair of the BMA’s Welsh council said: “Minimum Unit Pricing is a policy that will help to save lives and reduce the burden of alcohol on our health service and most importantly on individuals and their families.
“It is not a panacea by any means. It’s just one component of a wider strategy needed to help our citizens who have or who are at risk of developing alcohol problems.
“Over 50% of serious assaults are said to be associated with alcohol consumption and if we can reduce that even by a little bit then the Bill will have been a success.”
Once again the sensible majority are penalised for the irresponsible actions of the senseless minority. Yet more nanny state excessive regulation and punitive taxation.
That is correct, 100% proof too! I am dismayed at how out of touch the AMs are. I have said it before,and it bears repetition, the problem will not go away using this method of punitive taxation. It is very easy to legally make your own wine, beer or cider without any duty taxation at all. Those that ‘tank up’ before going out to the pubs and bars will simply make their own.
I just wonder how much of this new “tax” will go to the NHS and how much will go back to business profits.
My guess is that the shops will be the ones in pocket.
It is the failure to deal with the irresponsible actions of the senseless minority which is the real issue.
It is easier for them to target the majority and in doing so they avoid the conflict of dealing with the minority.
An increase in the unit price of alcohol serves only to target the product rather than the person who drinks excessively. Those who can’t live without alcohol will still find a way to feed their craving one way or another, and again society will be the loser whilst the supermarkets enjoy the windfall that a rise in the unit price of alcohol will bring them.
I am at a bit of a conundrum with this as I can see why we need to increase the price. Our hospitals are struggling with alcohol related illness and this is a huge drain on our resources. (as is tabbaco related illness) We must not forget the increasing obseity levels in society which is also causing a drain on our NHS. We have all these items which people are using to excess and they need to fund in order to carry on the treatment. The problem with society is everyone does everything to excess instead of modaration. My issue with raising the price of alcohol/ suger tax for the NHS, is just how of this money being given to the NHS to help with treatment very little I expect.
Lets not forget that if alcohol was discovered today as a “drug” it would probably be banned. We now have MPs debating whether cannabis should be legalised for medical purpose, while I am all for this, legalising it in general I am a bit more cautious, mainly because of the cancer issue if you smoke it and will we see a price raise on this in the future to help the NHs. If its regulated properly it has so many health benifts from the oil alone, something we are missing out on. I like the odd drink, i like a cigaratte in the evening before bed. The message if people didnt do everything to excess eating vast amounts of junk food n excess alcohol we wouldnt be in the mess we are in.
Should be priced as a pack of cigarettes.
They are, a 20 pack of cigarettes are £10.04 and a 18 Stella is £13.00, so that comment is a bit idiotic.
£10.00 a pint sounds good.
4 cans for £10.00 even better.
Get with the times cheap cigarettes £8.00
I don’t shop in those kind of stores, I’m more of a Sainsbury person. I just wanted to highlight what an idiotic comment yours was above.
Why Ed why is it a idiotic comment.????
You cant seem to grasp the idea of a debate, you just give one word answers with no relvance.
But why it has no relevance just said it should be the price of a pack of cigarettes.
And its RELEVANCE cheack your SPELLING.
I see you mastered spell check, well done! A 20 pack of cigarettes are £10.04 a 20 pack of fosters is £12.00 so if you price matched them you would lower the price by £2.00. People would then buy more increasing health problems! Thats why its not relevant.
Fantastic Ed your found out at your age how to use it.
I don’t buy pack’s of fosters not my kind of drink, but in Scotland the new price law on drink has worked well.
So in Wales it should be good to, smoking drinking at a higher price will be better family’s can walk caerphilly at night without problems.
You really are missing the point arent you Jack my boy. If you read my first post you will see my feelings on the subject. Its your point about price matching alcohol with beer that makes no sense. Im not scared to walk around Caerphilly now at night even at my age.
It’s working well in Scotland.
Not by price matching cigarettes, thy have increased the tariff on beer and cider. As i said im at a conundrum over it all. I agree we need to stop binge drinking and fund the nhs, but why punish all responsible drinkers.
Working well in Scotland stopped the over indulgence.
Should ban all cheap drink…..
1 off licence per 10k or 20k or 30k etc residents, the only other licence issued is to pubs/restaurants/hotels etc.
A landlord will tell you when you’ve had enough but a supermarket will sell you enough booze to drown yourself in.
I know I’ve said this on this forum multiple times but it still stands as a good idea.