What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of minimum alcohol pricing on household budgets during the cost-of-living crisis?
Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol is one of the tools we have which aims to reduce alcohol related harm. It needs to be seen in the context of other elements of effective alcohol policy, notably effective treatment provision.
The Welsh Government has commissioned an independent evaluation of the legislation and four contracts have been awarded, looking at different aspects of implementation. Interim reports (Research into minimum pricing for alcohol | GOV.WALES) from those studies have now been published. These reports will allow us to review progress with the policy but will be too early to conclude on the effectiveness of the policy. A further follow-up will be undertaken, with final reports available towards the end of 2024.