Minimum unit pricing for alcohol will be a major part of a wider
package of measures to reduce the harms caused by excessive
alcohol consumption in Wales, Health Secretary has said.
Ahead of an Assembly debate on the Welsh Government’s Public
Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, which was
introduced to the National Assembly last October, the Health
Secretary has announced extra investment in substance misuse
services.
Assembly Members will decide later today whether the Bill should
pass its first legislative stage, and proceed on to stage 2 –
which involves detailed consideration by Assembly committees. If
passed by the Assembly later this year, the current intention is
that a minimum unit price would be introduced 12 months following
the Bill’s Royal Assent.
The Welsh Government invests almost £50m a year to support people
with substance misuse issues. Almost half of this funding goes
directly to the seven Area Planning Boards which commission
substance misuse services for their region.
In response to calls made for additional resources to be
allocated for substance misuse services, the Health Secretary has
confirmed the ring-fenced substance misuse funding for
health boards will be increased by nearly £1m, to over £18m from
2018-19.
Speaking ahead of the debate, said:
“Wales, like so many other western countries, has a problem with
cheap, strong, readily-available alcohol.
“Minimum unit pricing is not a silver bullet, but it will be a
major new and important tool in our approach to reducing alcohol
consumption. By introducing a minimum price, we can make a
difference – as we have done with the smoking ban, which
demonstrated our determination to create a different future for
the people of Wales.
“I’ve been very clear, that it will not work in isolation.
Alcohol policy in Wales requires a variety of approaches, which
taken together, can generate change. That’s why we are supporting
people throughout Wales to develop a healthier relationship with
alcohol, through our Substance Misuse Strategy, and end the sad
spectre of people dying from drink.
“We know there is a significant amount of evidence from around
the world, showing there is a very clear relationship between the
price of alcohol and alcohol consumption. Our ground-breaking
legislation helps address that.
“There have long been calls for Wales to change its relationship
with alcohol. I expect this Bill will make a fundamental
contribution to reducing hazardous and harmful drinking and
ultimately, will help to save lives.”
ENDS
Notes
- · In 2015-16
alone, there were 54,000 hospital admissions in Wales
attributable to alcohol. Alcohol-attributable hospital admissions
cost the NHS an estimated £120m a year.
- · In 2016, 504
people died because of alcohol and every one of these of these
deaths was preventable.
A survey by Public Health Wales last month revealed that the
public think that smoking, drug abuse, alcohol misuse, physical
inactivity and unhealthy eating habits make the biggest
contribution to poor health and wellbeing in Welsh
communities.
It also identified strong support for a preventative approach to
public health – this is at the heart of this Bill.
