1. The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 20181 came into force on 2 March 2020. The Act introduced a ‘minimum unit price’ for the sale and supply of alcohol in Wales, and made it an offence for alcohol to be sold below that price.
2. The Act was aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm by increasing the cost of cheap, high-strength, readily available alcohol which is often linked to harmful alcohol consumption and related health issues. It was intended to reduce the amount of alcohol being consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers, whilst minimising impacts on moderate drinkers.
3. The Act includes a ‘sunset clause’, which means that minimum unit pricing for alcohol will end in Wales in March 2026 unless the Welsh Government takes action to extend it. The Act also requires the Welsh Government to report on the operation and effect of the legislation five years after its implementation.
4. In January 2025, the Welsh Government published the final reports of the independent evaluation2 it had commissioned on the operation and effect of the Act. It is also undertaking a consultation to gather views on awareness of minimum unit pricing in Wales and its impact...