A new law that will introduce a minimum price for the sale of
alcohol in Wales, as part of wider efforts to reduce the health
effects of excessive drinking, has been unveiled by the Welsh
Government.
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, is
expected to be introduced before the National Assembly for Wales
today (Monday 23rd October 2017) by the
Public Health Minister, .
The Bill will address longstanding and specific health concerns
around the effects of excess alcohol consumption, which is
estimated to lead to 50,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions a
year, costing the Welsh NHS £120m annually. In 2015, there were
463 alcohol-related deaths in Wales.
The new Bill supports the Welsh Government’s comprehensive
strategy to tackle harmful and hazardous drinking by tackling the
availability and affordability of cheap, strong alcohol, which is
part of wider efforts to improve and protect the health of the
population of Wales.
The Bill proposes to introduce a minimum price for alcohol
supplied in Wales, and to make it an offence for alcohol to be
supplied below that price. The Bill proposes that the level of
the minimum unit price (MUP) for this purpose would be specified
in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.
In 2014, research on the impacts of introducing a 50p minimum
unit price (for example) estimated the following:
- A 50p MUP would result in 53 fewer deaths and 1,400 fewer
hospital admissions in Wales per year;
- A 50p MUP would save the Welsh NHS more than £130m over 20
years, by reducing impacts on health services, such as Accident
and Emergency;
- It would reduce workplace absence, which is estimated would
fall by up to 10,000 days per year.
Over a 20 year period, the introduction of a MUP could contribute
£882m to the Welsh economy in terms of the reduction in
alcohol-related illness, crime and workplace absence.
The Bill proposes:
- A formula for calculating the applicable minimum price for
alcohol using the percentage strength of the alcohol, its volume
and the MUP;
- Powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation to
specify the MUP;
- To establish a local authority-led enforcement regime with
powers of entry, powers to bring prosecutions for offences and to
issue fixed penalty notices.
Public Health Minister said:
“Alcohol-related harm is a significant public health problem in
Wales. The 463 alcohol-attributable deaths in 2015 were all
avoidable, and each of these deaths would have had a devastating
effect on the person’s family and friends. Alcohol-related harm
also has a big impact on public services such as the NHS.
“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.
“The Bill I am unveiling today will tackle excessive alcohol
consumption by making it an offence for retailers to sell strong
alcohol at low prices. It will make an important contribution to
improving health outcomes, by putting prevention and early
intervention at the heart of our efforts to reduce
alcohol-related harm. This will undoubtedly help save lives.”
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton said:
“As alcohol has become more affordable, consumption has
increased. As consumption increases, harm increases. All
alcohol-attributable deaths are avoidable deaths, demonstrating
the urgency for further preventative action..
“Increasing the price of alcohol through the introduction of a
minimum unit price provides us with an effective and efficient
way of reducing excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related
harm.
“It will have a small impact on moderate drinkers. The most
substantial effects will be experienced by harmful and hazardous
drinkers, who are more likely to consume cheaper and higher
strength alcohol products.”
ENDS
Notes
- The Welsh Government undertook a five-month consultation on
the draft Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill
from July 2015.
- The summary report of the 194 responses received was
published on 11 March 2016. A majority (68%) of respondents were
in favour of introducing legislation to provide a minimum price
for alcohol in Wales.
- The First Minister of Wales announced, in his legislative
statement on 27 June 2017, that the Welsh Government would
proceed with the introduction of legislation for a minimum price
for alcohol.
Alcohol in Wales:
- Although levels of alcohol consumption have been falling in
Wales in recent years, one in five (20%) adults continue to
report drinking above the recommended guidelines (National Survey
2016 data) – which are no more than 14 units of alcohol per week,
for both men and women.
- Almost a third (31%) of adults drank more than three units
(women) or four units (men) on at least one day the previous
week.
- The new weekly guidelines are no more than 14 units of
alcohol per week, for both men and women.
