The British Liver Trust welcome the announcement that the bill for Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of Alcohol in Wales has been given Royal Assent. We have provided statistics, information and have been involved in discussions with Welsh Government to support the Bill so we are pleased to see this outcome.
Judi Rhys, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust commented: “The UK is experiencing a liver disease epidemic. There are 400% more people dying from liver disease than in the 1970s and at the same time alcohol has become less expensive and more easily available. Minimum pricing will impact the most harmful drinkers as MUP affects the cheapest booze and the heaviest drinkers.”
The new law will allow Welsh Ministers to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol supplied in Wales. It will make it an offence for alcohol to be supplied below a minimum price made up of that minimum unit price, the strength of the alcohol and its volume, specifically targeting cheap, strong alcohol.
The legislation will target and aim to reduce the amount of alcohol being consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers, whilst minimising impacts on moderate drinkers.
The level of the minimum unit price for this purpose will be specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers, following a consultation which will be launched this autumn.
The new minimum pricing regime is currently expected to come into force during the summer of 2019.
The British Liver Trust urges everyone to take their online screening test to find out if they are at risk of liver disease: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener