An end to cheap booze? Minimum alcohol price law passed
The cost of cheap, strong alcohol is set to rise in Wales under a new law.
Legislation allowing for a minimum price per unit of alcohol was approved by AMs on Tuesday.
If the price is set at 50p, it would mean a can of cider would cost at least £1 and a bottle of wine £4.69.
Ministers believe tackling excessive drinking could save one life a week and 1,400 hospital admissions a year. The minimum price is expected to come into force in 2019.
The bill – backed by Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives – was passed in the assembly by 45 votes to five, with Wales following in the footsteps of Scotland by setting a minimum price per unit.
However, people in Guildhall Square, Carmarthen, were sceptical and believed it would “not put people off” buying booze.
Dean Brace, 20, said: “The price of fags has gone up but people still smoke.
“I think it’s a good way to start tackling the problem but I wouldn’t say it would sort the problem”.
Suzanne Oslan said: “I think it could possibly work but in the long term because the people that are already buying it now will just pay what they have to pay, they will grumble a lot more about it, but they will pay it.”
Alcohol sold below 50p per unit makes up 72% of the beer sales in Welsh shops and supermarkets, 78% of the cider sales, 42% of the wine and 66% of the spirits.
The research suggests that while high-risk drinkers make up only a quarter of people who drink alcohol, they are responsible for 72% of all alcohol consumed and 65% of spending.
Other suggestions are that a minimum price could save the NHS £6.5m a year by reducing the impact on hospitals and boost the Welsh economy by £44m a year by reducing workplace absence and crime.
Click here to read more (Source: BBC News)