Welsh Government unveils Bill for minimum alcohol pricing

A Bill that would see local authorities enforce a minimum price for alcohol sales in Wales has been introduced by the Welsh Government.

The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill would make it an offence to supply alcohol below stipulated prices.

Public health minister Rebecca Evans said the Bill would address concerns about excess alcohol consumption, which she said is estimated to lead to 50,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions a year, costing the Welsh NHS £120m.

She cited 2014 research on the impacts of introducing a 50p minimum unit price, which found there would be 53 fewer deaths and 1,400 fewer hospital admissions a year.

The Bill proposes a formula for calculating the minimum price using the percentage strength of the alcohol and its volume.

There would be a local authority-led enforcement regime with powers of entry, powers to bring prosecutions for offences and to issue fixed penalty notices.

Ms Evans said:”There is a very clear and direct link between levels of excessive drinking and the availability of cheap alcohol. So we need to take decisive action now to address the affordability of alcohol, as part of wider efforts to tackle alcohol related harm."

Jonathan Smith, managing partner at licensing law firm Poppleston Allen, said: “This follows the introduction of a minimum unit price in Scotland, which is currently the subject of a legal challenge. 

“Any plans the Welsh Government has to introduce the minimum price are likely to be dependent upon the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision on the challenge that is being made to the Scottish Government’s attempt to introduce a minimum price.”

Mark Smulian