Minimum price law for booze won’t affect pubs, says charity

WALES’ proposed minimum price for alcohol won’t affect the price of a pint in pubs, a charity has said.

Alcohol Concern Cymru will give evidence to the National Assembly’s Health Committee on Wednesday on its research on the effect of the planned Welsh law, which it supports.

Under the new law, a unit of alcohol (10ml of pure alcohol) could not be sold for less than 50p, regardless of what type of alcoholic drink it’s in.

Its biggest impact will be on cheap cider and beer sold in supermarkets.

The Welsh Government and many medical and public health organisations believe the measure will cut crime and save lives.

During October and November this year, Alcohol Concern Cymru collected information on the prices of a range of drinks in pubs and supermarkets across Cardiff and the findings make clear that pub prices will not have to rise as a result of the minimum price measure.

The cheapest drink they found in pubs in the capital was cider at 98p per unit, nearly twice the proposed 50p per unit threshold. The average prices for cider, lager and red wine in pubs were £1.36 per unit, £1.43 per unit and £1.53 per unit respectively.

On the other hand, many products were on sale in shops well below 50p per unit, including 70cl of vodka for £10 or 38p a unit, 70cl of fortified wine for £2.99 or 27p a unit and three litres of strong cider for £3.99, or 18p per unit.

Alcohol Concern Cymru director Andrew Misell said: “It’s no wonder so many publicans believe that MUP could be a boost for local pubs.

“Back in 2010, an Assembly committee warned that cheap supermarket alcohol was threatening the future of community pubs. And when we asked publicans in Wales about a 50p minimum unit price, we found that 77% supported it and 94% believed that cheap alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences was damaging their trade.

“Minimum pricing is not going to solve every publican’s problems overnight, but by closing the price gap between pubs and supermarkets to some degree it will focus producers and retailers on quality rather than quantity – and that’s a situation that the best pubs are well placed to take advantage of.”

He said the charity looked at 27 drinks in seven shops and three drinks in 14 pubs.