I therefore call on the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, Sarah Murphy.

Motion NDM9129 Jane Hutt

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 (Continuation) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 16 December 2025.

Motion NDM9130 Jane Hutt

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Minimum Unit Price) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 16 December 2025.

Motions moved.

Thank you very much. The regulations before the Senedd today build on and look to continue the success of minimum unit pricing policy in Wales. Minimum unit pricing was introduced with a clear purpose: to reduce the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Its aim was, and continues to be, to tackle alcohol-related harm, including hospital admissions and alcohol-specific deaths, by reducing consumption among hazardous and harmful drinkers.

This policy is part of a broader Welsh Government commitment to improving health outcomes and tackling inequality. Alongside MUP, we continue to invest over £67 million annually in substance misuse services, and these services provide vital support, including rehabilitation and education, for those affected by alcohol and drug misuse.

Over the past five years, we have carefully monitored the impact of MUP. Independent valuations, the operation and effect report and extensive stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation and evidence gathered by the Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee, have all informed our future approach. I would really like to thank the committee for its work and its recommendations, which included the recommendation that the Welsh Government should bring forward regulations to continue MUP beyond March 2026 and seek to increase the minimum unit price for alcohol.

The evidence is clear: MUP has contributed positively to its intended objectives, and its operation has been broadly successful. In addition, we commissioned updated modelling from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group. Their analysis assessed the impact of continuing MUP and explored options for adjusting the price. The findings support an increase to 65p per unit, which would maintain the policy's effectiveness in real terms, and align Wales with Scotland. We recognise that certain groups, such as dependent drinkers on low incomes, may be vulnerable to changes in pricing, and that is why we will continue to provide support through our substance misuse services and ensure clear public health messaging accompanies any changes.

It is important to acknowledge the context in which MUP has operated. Its introduction coincided with the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, factors that have influenced attitudes and consumption patterns. Despite these challenges, the evidence shows that MUP has helped reduce the availability of high-strength, low-cost alcohol products, a positive step towards encouraging responsible drinking.

The original Act includes a Sunset clause, meaning the current provisions would expire on 1 March 2026, unless new legislation is introduced. So, today I am presenting regulations to ensure MUP continues beyond that date, and, secondly, to increase the minimum price to 65p per unit. These measures will help us build on the progress made and further protect the health and well-being of people in Wales.

So, in summary, these two proposals are not just policy decisions; they are public health interventions that save lives, they reduce harm and support healthier communities. Minimum pricing for alcohol is not designed to work in isolation, and we will continue to support our broad work in the substance misuse area, targeted towards prevention, support and recovery and tackling availability. Diolch.

I call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Mike Hedges.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered both sets of draft regulations on 19 January. The committee's reports each contain the same merits scrutiny reporting points. They highlight that the respective instruments have been prepared outside the new software for Welsh statutory instruments and may therefore require minor formatting improvements during the registration process if they are approved by the Senedd. A Welsh Government response was not required to either report.

I'm responding to this today not as the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, but in my own right, representing our group. Now, whilst the intention behind this policy is well meaning, we do not think the legislation in its current form is wholly compatible with its aims. There just isn't enough conclusive evidence to continue with it, let alone the increase in the minimum price by a third. It is important to note, too, this legislation has a disproportionate impact on those with lower incomes.

Also, there is concern that people with alcohol dependencies will sadly continue to purchase alcohol, just at a higher financial detriment to themselves and probably their families. We talk about the prevention agenda a lot in this Chamber, but we need to see prevention being implemented. The Government's energy would be better focused on addressing the underlying causes of alcohol misuse or alcoholism and improving support for those in recovery, rather than looking to use policies that have detrimental impacts on those most vulnerable. The Welsh Government needs to acknowledge the fact that this legislation is not delivering as intended. Latest data shows alcohol-specific deaths have increased to a new high, with 262 fatalities recorded in Wales in 2023. Alcohol-specific hospital admissions also continue to rise, with over 12,000 admissions involving more than 8,000 individuals. The fact is that you are 2.8 times more likely to be admitted for an alcohol-specific condition if you are from a more deprived area in Wales.

Dirprwy Lywydd, there isn't enough strong evidence that this policy is working as intended, and the Welsh Government would do well to focus their efforts on better evidence-led policies, rather than looking to expand the so-called nanny state and control the price of yet another product in Wales, albeit well meant. We need more time and money invested in prevention, not restriction. For these reasons, the Welsh Conservatives will be voting against proposals to continue and to increase the minimum unit price.

As we consider these regulations today, I believe that it is important to start by recognising that this is a complex issue, and one that raises valid questions about health, equality and impact on communities. Decisions about alcohol pricing are never simple, and they deserve careful consideration based on evidence rather than intuition or ideology. Nevertheless, when we look honestly at the data before us, the scale of the challenge that we face is clear. In 2023, the highest number of people died in Wales as a result of alcohol abuse. At the same time, it is estimated that alcohol-related harms cost the NHS in Wales around £159 million a year.

These facts highlight why we must continue to consider measures that can reduce harm in the long term. Given this context, I welcome the regulations before us today. The proposal to raise the minimum price per unit of alcohol reflects a simple economic reality, namely that over the past five years, inflation has eroded the value of the current policy. Without adjusting the level, the effectiveness of the minimum price gradually diminishes, undermining the very objectives for which it was introduced. Of course, this policy is not one that seeks to solve the problem of alcoholism in Wales, nor does it seek to affect the number of people who do misuse alcohol. And nobody is pretending that it is going to solve all the problems associated with misusing alcohol. Therefore, it does not replace the need for strong support services for people living with alcohol problems, nor for ongoing work to improve public awareness of responsible drinking. Rather, it should be seen as one part of a wider package of preventative measures. That's why I welcome another thing that the Minister said earlier, namely the intention to continue with the steps in progress in order to deal with alcohol misuse.

The evidence from Alcohol Change UK suggests that the minimum price thus far has had the intended effect of targeting cheap and very strong drinks, which are disproportionately associated with serious harms, particularly among vulnerable drinkers who are alcohol dependent.

It is also significant that the evaluations so far have not found strong evidence of the adverse consequences predicted by some, such as driving people towards other substances or to travel long distances to buy alcohol outside of Wales. That hasn't happened.

The Scottish experience also offers some useful context. There, the decision to raise the minimum price is based on modelling that suggests significant reductions in harmful drinking and deaths over time. That cannot be guaranteed, of course, but it is relevant evidence that should be taken seriously.

Finally, it's important to be clear that this measure is not a tax. The Government and this Senedd do not benefit financially from it. Its aim is to influence drinking patterns for the benefit of public health.

Dirprwy Lywydd, after weighing up the arguments and considering the available evidence, I have come to the conclusion that continuing the minimum price and updating it to reflect inflation is the most responsible step. It is a modest step, but one that prioritises people's well-being and the sustainability of our health services in the long term.

I call on the Minister to reply.

Thank you very much. Just to reiterate—and I thank everybody for their comments today—the primary focus of minimum unit pricing is to reduce alcohol-related harm at a population level, and we do recognise the importance of understanding its impact on all groups, including dependent drinkers on low incomes who may be vulnerable to the changes in alcohol pricing. We're also aware of the importance of that clear and effective public health messaging in relation to minimum unit pricing and the broader impact of alcohol consumption on physical and mental health.

We'll also continue to work with our area planning boards to ensure a range of services and support is in place to support people who are experiencing alcohol problems. Alcohol remains the most problematic substance for which people seek assistance. I just wanted to reiterate, as well, that the increase in price proposed of 65p per unit of alcohol would align with Scotland, and these options were underpinned by very thorough modelling and analysis conducted by the Sheffield Addictions Research Group. I hope that people will be able to support this today. I think it's really important that we take this step. Diolch.

The proposal is to agree the motion under item 6. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.

Voting deferred until voting time.

The next proposal is to agree the motion under item 7. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. Again, I will defer voting under this item until voting time.

Voting deferred until voting time.