Wales aligns minimum alcohol pricing with Scotland to “help save lives”

O heddiw ymlaen (dydd Iau 1 Hydref 2026), bydd isafbris uned o alcohol yng Nghymru yn cynyddu o 50c i 65c, mewn ymgais y disgwylir iddo achub cannoedd o fywydau.

Mae’r isafbris uned am alcohol wedi’i gynllunio i fynd i’r afael â niwed sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol, gan gynnwys derbyniadau i’r ysbyty a marwolaethau, drwy leihau’r defnydd o alcohol ymhlith yfwyr mewn perygl ac yfwyr a niweidir.

Mae arbenigwyr o’r farn y gallai’r ymgais hwn a ddaw i rym heddiw atal mwy na 900 o farwolaethau sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol a helpu bron i 5,000 o bobl yng Nghymru i leihau yfed mewn modd niweidiol dros yr 20 mlynedd nesaf.

O hyn ymlaen, bydd Cymru yn codi’r un isafbris â’r Alban.

Yn rhan o werthusiadau annibynnol a gynhaliwyd ym mis Ionawr 2025, yr Adroddiad Gweithrediad ac Effaith a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mehefin 2025 a’r ymgynghoriad dilynol ar barhad a chynyddu’r isafbris, cafwyd tystiolaeth bod chwyddiant wedi effeithio ar y gyfradd 50c ac wedi lleihau ei gwerth mewn termau real i 39c ym mhrisiau 2020. Mae codi’r isafbris uned i 65c yn helpu i ddatrys hyn.

Mae siopau, Safonau Masnach a gwasanaethau cymorth wedi cael canllawiau newydd cyn y newid hwn heddiw.

Mae’r isafbris uned yn un o nifer o gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i helpu i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb a gwella canlyniadau iechyd. Mae’n buddsoddi dros £68 miliwn i helpu’r rhai yr effeithir arnynt gan y defnydd o alcohol a chyffuriau, gan gynnwys mwy na £41 miliwn sy’n cael ei roi yn uniongyrchol i wasanaethau cymorth lleol ledled Cymru.

Dywedodd y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Iechyd Cyhoeddus ac Ataliol, Nerys Evans:

Mae pob un o’r cannoedd o fywydau y gallai’r newid hwn ei achub yn rhiant, yn bartner neu’n blentyn i rywun. Dyna pam mae hyn yn bwysig.
Mae tystiolaeth yn dangos bod cyflwyno isafbris uned am alcohol wedi gwneud cyfraniad pwysig o ran mynd i’r afael â’r risgiau iechyd sy’n gysylltiedig â goryfed alcohol.
Ond ry’n ni hefyd yn gwybod bod chwyddiant wedi gwneud yr isafbris o 50c yn llai effeithiol, felly dyw ei godi i 65c ddim yn ymwneud â chosbi pobl sy’n yfed yn gyfrifol, ond mae’n golygu cau’r bwlch hwnnw a gwneud yn siŵr bod yr isafbris uned yn parhau i wneud ei waith drwy gadw alcohol cryf, rhad iawn oddi ar y silffoedd.

Dywedodd Cyfarwyddwr Cymru yr elusen Alcohol Change UK, Andrew Misell:

Mae isafbris uned yn targedu’r diodydd rhataf a chryfaf, sy’n aml yn achosi’r niwed mwyaf.
Mi fydd yr isafbris newydd hwn o 65c yn cadw poteli mawr o seidr cryf iawn oddi ar y silffoedd, a hefyd yn ei gwneud hi’n anoddach i archfarchnadoedd gynnig gostyngiadau swmp, lle mae diodydd alcohol yn rhatach po fwyaf ry’ch chi’n eu prynu. A hyn i gyd heb wthio pris peint i fyny mewn tafarndai.

The Welsh Government has increased the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol from 50p to 65p per unit, bringing Wales into line with Scotland in a move ministers say could prevent hundreds of alcohol-related deaths and reduce harmful drinking.

The new rate came into force on 1 October 2026 and applies to all licensed alcohol retailers in Wales. The policy is designed to tackle alcohol-related harm by targeting the sale of high-strength, low-cost alcoholic products that are disproportionately associated with hazardous and harmful drinking.

According to the Welsh Government, experts estimate the change could prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths and help nearly 5,000 people reduce harmful alcohol consumption over the next 20 years.

Minimum unit pricing was first introduced in Wales in March 2020 under the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018. Earlier this year, Members of the Senedd voted to continue the policy and increase the minimum price to 65p following a review of its effectiveness.

The Welsh Government said evaluations of the scheme found that inflation had significantly eroded the value of the previous 50p rate, reducing its real-terms value to approximately 39p in 2020 prices. The increase to 65p is intended to restore the policy’s impact.

Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health Nerys Evans said the change could save lives and strengthen efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm across Wales. The government emphasised that the measure is aimed at reducing the availability of cheap, high-strength alcohol rather than increasing prices for those who drink responsibly.

The charity Alcohol Change UK has also welcomed the increase. Its Wales director, Andrew Misell, said minimum unit pricing specifically targets the cheapest and strongest alcoholic products, which often cause the greatest harm. He added that the higher rate could help reduce the availability of super-strength cider and limit bulk-buy promotions that encourage excessive consumption.

The Welsh Government invests more than £68 million annually in services supporting people affected by alcohol and drug use, with over £41 million directed to local support services across Wales. Officials say the revised MUP forms part of a broader public health strategy aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving long-term health outcomes.