Wales raises minimum alcohol price to 65p per unit

Wales will increase its minimum unit price for alcohol from 50p to 65p from October. Ministers say the move is designed to restore the policy’s impact after inflation weakened the existing rate.

The Welsh Government has confirmed that the minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol will rise from 50p to 65p per unit from October, following support from Senedd members. The uplift means a can of lager currently sold for £1 will have a minimum price of £1.30, a £2.50 bottle of cider will rise to £3.25 and a bottle of whisky priced at £14 will have a minimum cost of £18.20, as reported by the BBC.

Minimum unit pricing was introduced in Wales in 2020 and the new rate follows a public consultation.

Welsh Government says inflation has blunted the 50p rate

As reported by the drinks business, the Welsh government launched its consultation on the basis that the current 50p rate no longer has sufficient influence over the cheapest alcohol products.
Minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said that since the policy began, Wales has faced a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and high inflation.

Murphy said inflation had reduced the real terms value of the 50p rate to 39p in 2020 prices, adding that it was therefore no longer significantly influencing the price of the lowest cost alcohol.

the drinks business also reported that the consultation considered whether the policy should be extended beyond its current end date of March 2026.

Modelling points to reductions in harmful drinking

The Welsh Government’s case for a higher minimum price has leaned heavily on modelling and independent research. Modelling suggests raising the MUP to 65p could reduce hazardous drinkers in Wales by over 6,300 and cut the number of harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000. The same modelling suggested the change could encourage more people to drink at moderate levels.

The policy was introduced to target high-strength alcohol sold at low cost and consumed in large volumes, with the focus on hazardous and harmful drinkers rather than moderate consumers.
Separate independent research commissioned by the Welsh government suggests the policy could prevent more than 900 alcohol related deaths over 20 years.

Alcohol harm data drives political pressure

Public Health Wales figures show that between 2019 and 2023, alcohol related deaths increased by more than 50%, according to the BBC. The Welsh Government has positioned MUP as part of a wider substance misuse approach, including prevention, support, recovery and restricting availability

Welsh ministers have linked high consumption of strong alcohol to long term health risks, including cancer, stroke, heart disease, liver disease and brain damage.

Political opposition remains entrenched

With Wales moving to match Scotland’s 65p rate, the change is likely to be closely monitored by producers, retailers and operators assessing how pricing floors shape purchasing patterns. Supporters argue the increase restores the original intent of the 2020 policy by curbing the cheapest high-strength alcohol. Critics maintain it risks squeezing moderate drinkers during a period of financial strain.

Either way, from October, the floor price of alcohol in Wales will be reset, and the trade will have fresh data on whether minimum pricing continues to shift consumption away from the strongest low-cost products.

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