Welsh Government maintains focus on alcohol harm through strengthened minimum unit pricing measures

The Welsh Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling alcohol-related harm, with the continuation and strengthening of minimum unit pricing emerging as one of the most significant public health measures underpinning its wider agenda for the 2026-2030 Senedd term.

While the Programme for Government 2026-2030 does not include specific proposals to reform alcohol licensing laws, the government’s approach to reducing alcohol harm is being demonstrated through its decision to extend and increase the minimum unit price for alcohol.

Earlier this year, Members of the Senedd voted to continue Wales’ minimum unit pricing policy and increase the minimum price from 50p to 65p per unit, bringing it into line with Scotland. The policy is intended to reduce the consumption of cheap, high-strength alcohol among hazardous and harmful drinkers, helping to address alcohol-related illness, hospital admissions and deaths.

The decision represents a major intervention in Wales’ public health strategy. Research commissioned by the Welsh Government found that increasing the minimum unit price to 65p could prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths over a 20-year period and reduce the number of harmful drinkers by almost 5,000.

Minimum unit pricing was first introduced in Wales in March 2020 under the Public Health (Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018. The legislation contained a sunset clause that would have seen the policy expire on 1 March 2026 had the Senedd not voted to extend it. Following the successful vote, the revised 65p minimum unit price is due to come into force on 1 October 2026.

The Welsh Government argues that minimum pricing helps target the cheapest alcohol products associated with the greatest levels of harm while having a limited impact on moderate drinkers. Public health organisations have welcomed the continuation of the policy, noting that inflation had reduced the effectiveness of the original 50p rate since its introduction.