Welsh ministers have voted in favour of increasing the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Wales from 50p to 65p.
The 30% increase in the rate – which was introduced in Wales in 2020 – will take effect from October, bringing Welsh MUP in line with Scotland.
It means a standard can of 4% abv lager currently sold for £1 will cost at least £1.30, a bottle of 12.5% wine will increase from £4.69 to £6.09, and a bottle of 40% abv whisky currently sold for £14 will increase to £18.20.
The move was designed to “designed to tackle alcohol-related harm.. by reducing alcohol consumption among hazardous and harmful drinkers”, Welsh ministers said.
The Conservatives accused Labour and Plaid Cymru of “teaming up to push up the price of beer, cider and wine”, however.
Independent research commissioned by the Welsh government found increasing MUP to 65p could help prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths over 20 years and reduce the number of “harmful drinkers” by nearly 5,000.
Between 2019 and 2023, the number of alcohol-related deaths in Wales increased by more than 50%, according to Public Health Wales figures.
Following the vote in the Senedd yesterday (3 February), minister for mental health and wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: “Cheap, high-strength alcohol disproportionately affects hazardous and harmful drinkers. The evidence is clear – minimum unit pricing works.
“We have today taken a decision which will save lives and help protect many people from the harms caused by drinking too much alcohol.”
Alcohol harm reduction charity Alcohol Change UK (ACUK) welcomed the move.
“Inflation has steadily eroded the impact of the minimum unit price since it was introduced in 2020,” said Andrew Misell, ACUK director for Wales. “This increase restores the policy’s effectiveness and ensures it can continue to reduce the availability of the cheapest, strongest alcohol that causes the most harm.”
The Welsh Conservatives opposed the increase, and instead called for targeted funding for rehabilitation schemes for those struggling with alcohol abuse.
“Labour and Plaid are teaming up to push up the price of beer, cider and wine,” said Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar. “Minimum unit pricing for alcohol has not worked. It has only served to hit hard-pressed Welsh consumers that don’t have a drink problem in their pockets, and resulted in problem drinkers consuming stronger booze and going without food or heating.
“The Welsh Conservatives will scrap the minimum unit price for alcohol, lower costs for consumers, and invest in targeted rehabilitation support at those struggling with alcohol abuse instead.”
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