On 2 March 2020, we’ll be seeing a change to the way alcohol is sold in Wales, with the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP). Here are the answers to some questions you may have about MUP and what it means.
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Minimum unit pricing (MUP) will set a floor price for alcohol, meaning that alcohol cannot be sold or supplied below that price.
That price is based on how much alcohol is in each drink.
The minimum price that’s being set in Wales is 50p per unit of alcohol.
A unit of alcohol is 10ml (two teaspoons) of pure alcohol. Whether a drink is beer, cider, wine, spirits, or any other kind of alcoholic drink, its minimum price will depend on how much alcohol is in it. So, for example:
In 2018, there were 535 alcohol-related deaths in Wales; and in 2018-19, there were nearly 60,000 alcohol attributable hospital admissions. Evidence demonstrates there is a link between drinking at harmful levels and the availability of cheap alcohol, with minimum pricing being effective in reducing alcohol consumption among hazardous and harmful drinkers.
For information on how MUP has impacted Scotland, you can visit the Alcohol Change website
Moderate or infrequent drinkers will notice very little difference when shopping – maybe a few pence here and there – as many drinks are already priced above MUP.
People who are currently alcohol dependant may find the initial transition challenging, as it mostly affects the strong, cheap ciders which are often sold in large plastic bottles. Some of these are set to more than double in price and may well disappear from sale in many places.
Discounts and special offers may also be affected as shops will not be able to discount them so that the cost goes below MUP.
Barod staff have been informed about the changes and how they can support service users who are, or may be, affected by the change. We will be informing service users and the general public before the changes come into play, to give people time to prepare.
We will also be promoting services and support options for those who aren’t already seeking support but who find themselves affected by the changes.
If you feel the change is or may affect you, please contact your local Barod service, which you can find here
Drinks sold in pubs are already well above the 50p per unit minimum price, and so MUP won’t affect them. For example, the minimum price means you won’t be able to buy a pint of beer for less than £1.25 or a large glass of wine for less than about £1.65. You can see straight away that pub prices are never that low. In fact, many publicans have said that they support MUP because they believe it will create a more level playing field between pubs and supermarkets.
Most of the major alcohol producers and the big supermarkets have opposed MUP, suggesting that they believe it will hit their sales. Evidence from around the world shows that when the price of alcohol goes up, the amount people buy goes down, .
