A landmark policy which the Welsh Labour Government says will help reduce deaths and harm from excess alcohol use will be extended in Wales, following a vote in the Senedd - with the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol set to be increased from 50p to 65p per unit.

Members of the Senedd passed regulations on Tuesday, February 3, to continue the minimum pricing for alcohol policy and to increase the minimum unit price from 50p to 65p – bringing it into line with the rate in Scotland.

Minimum pricing for alcohol is designed to tackle alcohol-related harm – including hospital admissions and deaths – by reducing alcohol consumption among hazardous and harmful drinkers.

Independent research commissioned by the Welsh Government has found that increasing the minimum unit price to 65p could prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths over 20 years and reduce the number of harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000.

Following the vote in the Senedd, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: “Cheap, high-strength alcohol disproportionately affects hazardous and harmful drinkers. The evidence is clear – minimum unit pricing works.

“We have today taken a decision which will save lives and help protect many people from the harms caused by drinking too much alcohol.”

Alcohol Change UK’s Director for Wales, Andrew Misell, welcomed the policy continuation, saying: "Inflation has steadily eroded the impact of the minimum unit price since it was introduced in 2020. This increase restores the policy's effectiveness and ensures it can continue to reduce the availability of the cheapest, strongest alcohol that causes the most harm."

Minimum unit pricing was originally introduced in Wales in March 2020 when the Public Health (Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 came into force. The Act contained a sunset clause, which meant minimum unit pricing would have ended on 1 March 2026, if the Senedd had not voted to extend the policy.

The price change regulations will come into effect from October 1, 2026.

The Welsh Conservatives have reiterated calls to scrap the MUP for alcohol and called for targeted funding for rehabilitation schemes for those struggling with alcohol abuse instead.

Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS said: “Labour and Plaid are teaming up to push up the price of beer, cider and wine.

“Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol has not worked. It has only served to hit hard-pressed Welsh consumers that don't have a drink problem in their pockets, and resulted in problem drinkers consuming stronger booze and going without food or heating.

“The Welsh Conservatives will scrap the Minimum Unit Price for alcohol, lower costs for consumers, and invest in targeted rehabilitation support at those struggling with alcohol abuse instead.”