In April 2025, we responded to the Senedd Health and Social Care Committee's call for evidence as part of its inquiry into Minimum Unit Pricing in Wales.
Our response
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 introduced a Minimum Unit Price (MUP) for alcohol, setting a price of 50p per unit of alcohol. This means that alcohol cannot be sold in Wales at less than 50p per unit. Alongside other policies addressing alcohol related harm, MUP aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by increasing the cost of cheap, high-strength alcohol, which is often linked to harmful alcohol consumption and related health issues.
The Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee has launched an inquiry into the operation and effect of the MUP. Our response to the committee's call for evidence focuses on the ways in which alcohol is harmful to children and young people's health.
- Alcohol consumption remains a concern for children and young people in Wales, with data indicating a significant gender gap with girls more likely to consume alcohol at the age of 11 and 15 than boys. There has also been a rise in the number of school exclusions for alcohol-related reasons.
- Parental drinking can have a significant impact on children's health and wellbeing. The benefits of supporting families to address problematic drinking behaviours and reducing the risk of exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), could be intergenerational and greatly benefit families.
- Minimum Unit Pricing remains an essential cornerstone of efforts to address the harmful impact of alcohol consumption in Wales. However, the Welsh Government needs to pursue a wider package of measures to reduce alcohol-related harm among children, young people and their families.