Welsh Government looking to raise minimum alcohol price in Wales despite mixed results
It was set at a rate of 50p per unit - a price point that impacted lower cost alcohol options like cheap high strength cider. Action was the taken in a bid to reduce problem alcohol consumption.
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.
But in Wales there has so far been limited evidence of significant changes in purchasing and consumption behaviour for the majority of the population. There is some indicative evidence that overall Welsh consumption was reduced, particularly from a retailers study. Evidence from a similar policy in Scotland has shown reduced consumption. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
When it came to problem drinkers the most marked change observed with some was a switch away from the previously cheap cider towards spirits, wine, and strong lagers, rather than any reduction in consumption. Others had cut back in other areas, like food and household bills.
Statistics for key alcohol harm measures, notably those of alcohol related deaths and hospital admissions have (as yet) to show any decline in recent trends of increasing numbers of harms. This has though come during a challenging period - with the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis.
Despite so far seeing inconclusive results since minimum pricing came in the Welsh Government says an increase in the lowest unit price to 65p could reduce the number of harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000 people.
Welsh Government said: "Modelling data suggests raising the MUP to 65p per unit could further reduce harmful alcohol consumption, as well as encourage more people to drink at moderate levels instead. It could also lower the number of hazardous drinkers by more than 6,300 and harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000, reducing hospital admissions and deaths attributed to alcohol.
"Drinking large quantities of high-strength alcoholic drinks puts people at long-term risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, liver disease and brain damage. Minimum pricing for alcohol is not designed to work in isolation and, combined with a wide range of health policies in the substance misuse sector, is targeted towards prevention, support and recovery and tackling availability."
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: 'Since we brought minimum unit pricing into place there has been a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and high inflation.
'Despite all of these, research through independent evaluations has shown the policy, which is not a tax, has had a positive impact and has helped reduce levels of harmful drinking. We're consulting on raising the level as high inflation has made the 50p rate ineffective and reduced its value in real terms to 39p in 2020 prices.
'Due to this it is no longer significantly influencing the price of the cheapest alcohol and we need to review it."
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