The minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Wales rises from 50p to 65p from today, Thursday, October 1, bringing Wales in line with Scotland's rate. The increase is designed to tackle alcohol-related harm by raising the cost of cheap, high-strength drinks.
What changes under the new MUP
The rule does not increase the price of every drink, only those currently sold or supplied below 65p per unit. The law was introduced to reduce alcohol-related harm by making low-cost, high-strength alcohol more expensive, as such drinks are often linked to harmful consumption and related health issues.
Scotland updated its price from 50p to 65p in 2024. The Welsh Government say experts suggest the change could cut 900 alcohol-related deaths and help nearly 5,000 people reduce harmful drinking in Wales over the next 20 years.
Why the price is rising
The MUP first came into force in March 2020. The Welsh Government say the 50p rate has been eroded by inflation, reducing its real-term value to 39p in 2020 prices. With the increase, Wales now charges the same minimum price as Scotland.
The new minimum prices include: a 75cl bottle of wine (12% ABV) at £5.85, a 12-pack of Strongbow (4.5% ABV) at £15.44, a 75cl bottle of Smirnoff (37.5% ABV) at £17.06, and a 75cl bottle of Prosecco (11% ABV) at £5.36.
Officials and charities respond
Deputy health minister Nerys Evans said: "Every one of the hundreds of lives this change could save is someone's parent, partner or child. That's why this matters." She added: "Evidence shows that the introduction of the minimum unit price for alcohol has made an important contribution in tackling the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption."
Evans continued: "But we also know that the 50p minimum price has been made less effective by inflation, so raising it to 65p is not about punishing people who drink responsibly, it's about closing that gap and making sure the MUP keeps doing its job by keeping high strength low-cost alcohol off the shelves."
Andrew Misell, director for Wales at the charity Alcohol Change UK, said: "Minimum unit pricing targets the strongest cheapest drinks, that often cause the greatest harm." He added: "This new 65p minimum unit price will keep big bottles of super-strength cider off the shelves, and also make it more difficult for supermarkets to offer bulk discounts, where alcoholic drinks get cheaper the more you buy. And all this without pushing up the price of a pint in pubs."
