In response to the Welsh Government’s introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP), Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said:
“We are really delighted that the Welsh Government has demonstrated its commitment to tackling alcohol harm by introducing minimum unit pricing.
“Around 1,500 people in Wales die for reasons linked to alcohol each year[1]. By implementing MUP, the Welsh Government has recognised that by raising the price of the very cheapest and strongest drinks on the market, the devastating impact of alcohol harm on families and communities across Wales can be reduced.
“England now risks being left behind the rest of the UK in
the race to tackle the alcohol harm crisis. More than 24,000 people die in
England every year from alcohol-related causes[2],
with those living in the north of the country being disproportionately affected
by the devastating impact of alcohol harm. It is time for Westminster to step
up and prove it takes our nation’s health seriously by implementing MUP as a
matter of urgency.”
[1] Public Health Wales http://www.publichealthwalesobservatory.wales.nhs.uk/alcohol-overview
[2] PHE Local Alcohol Profiles for England https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/local-alcohol-profiles/data#page/11/gid/1938132984/pat/6/par/E12000001/ati/102/are/E06000047