Wales increases minimum alcohol unit price by 30%

The Welsh Government has increased the minimum unit price (MUP) of alcohol by 30%, raising the floor from 50p to 65p per unit. This move aligns Wales with Scotland’s pricing structure and aims to combat the eroding effects of inflation, which had reduced the effective value of the original 50p price to roughly 39p in 2020 terms.

Originally introduced in March 2020, the policy sets a minimum price based on alcohol content to discourage the consumption of cheap, high-strength beverages. The government anticipates that this adjustment could prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths and reduce harmful drinking levels for nearly 5,000 people over the next 20 years.

Under the new regulations, a 70cl bottle of 40% strength spirits will have a minimum price of £18.20, while a 750ml bottle of 12% strength wine will cost at least £5.85. While the Welsh Conservatives previously expressed concerns that the policy might penalize responsible drinkers, the government maintains the increase is necessary to restore the policy's effectiveness in reducing hospital admissions and alcohol-related fatalities.