The minimum price of alcohol in Wales must be set at 50p per unit

The minimum price of alcohol in Wales will be set at 50p per year from next year as part of the Welsh government plans.

The new regime – aimed at fighting alcohol-related deaths – could come into effect in the summer of 2019.

This would mean that a box of cider would cost at least £ 1 and a bottle of wine £ 4.69.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said he was seeking advice from businesses and individuals before implementing the plans. A minimum unit price of 50p is already in effect in Scotland.

The assembly passed a law allowing ministers to set a minimum price in June. Selling alcohol at a lower cost will be an offense.

Some fear that rising alcohol prices will cause some consumers to consume other, more harmful substances.

The Welsh government has stated that more than 500 alcohol-related deaths and nearly 55,000 alcohol-related hospitalizations have been recorded in Wales in 2017, the costs of health care related to alcohol. 39 alcohol rising to about 159 million pounds.

Academics at the University of Sheffield have estimated that a minimum unit price of 50p would lead to 66 (8.5%) fewer alcohol-attributable deaths per year and 1,281 (3.6%) less alcohol-related deaths per year. hospitalizations attributable to alcohol.

Mr. Gething said: "The ultimate goal of the introduction of a minimum unit price is to combat alcohol-related harm, including hospitalizations attributable to alcohol." alcohol and alcohol-related deaths in Wales, reducing alcohol consumption among dangerous drinkers. "

He added that the higher the price, the higher the proportion of alcohol purchased and the greater the estimated impact on alcohol related harm.

But he said: "There is a compromise because there is also a greater impact on moderate drinkers, especially moderate drinkers in the poorest groups."