Welsh Government could raise minimum alcohol price

THE Welsh Government is considering raising the minimum alcohol price in Wales, despite mixed reports on the effectiveness of the policy.

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Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Wales came into force in March 2020 in a bid to reduce problem alcohol consumption.

It was set at a rate of 50p per unit - a price point that impacted lower cost alcohol options like cheap high strength cider

Every year, an estimated 699 people die as a direct consequence of their alcohol consumption in Wales. There are also an estimated 11,243 hospital admissions attributable to alcohol annually.

These harms are heavily concentrated in the heaviest drinkers, with the 4.3% of drinkers drinking at harmful levels accounting for 30% of alcohol-attributable admissions, and 48% of alcohol-attributable deaths.