MPs Blocked Minimum Alcohol Pricing in Wales and Doctors Aren’t Happy

After being criticised for watering down official drinking guidelines last month, despite new research showing that alcohol is to blame for seven types of cancer, the British Government has found its way into the doctors' bad books again. And this time, it's over the price of a pint.

In July last year, the Welsh Government published plans to set a minimum price per unit for alcohol of 50p, in an attempt to tackle alcohol-related crime and illness. But earlier this week, it was announced that MPs in Westminster had blocked the plans and refused to devolve power over alcohol pricing.

In the Welsh Government's proposals, a bottle of vodka would have cost over £20 and a can of cider more than £1. They claimed implementing the minimum price per unit could save 50 lives a year.

So, why weren't Westminster MPs on board?

They said alcohol pricing was closely linked with policing—something which is the remit of Westminster, not the Welsh Government. Speaking to BBC Wales, the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: "Alcohol is so associated with criminal justice, there are so many facets to this debate, and because it's closely associated with criminal justice, policing is not devolved and therefore alcohol pricing should stay with that."

But not everyone's happy with the decision.

One of the areas that does come under the Welsh Government's remit is public health. Many argue that minimum pricing is as much a health issue as it is policing.

Andrew Misell, the Welsh director of alcohol charity Alcohol Concern, said in a press statement to MUNCHIES that he believes introducing the 50p standard is primarily a public health issue: "We and many other health bodies support a minimum price for alcohol mainly in order to reduce the tremendous burden of ill-health linked to cheap alcohol."

He added: "With alcohol on sale in Wales for as little as 15.5p per unit, and minimum pricing apparently shelved in England, we would say that the time is right to give the Assembly the tools to get the job done."

The news comes as Scotland continues to push for minimum pricing on booze, facing objections from alcohol producers who say the Government is breaching free trade and competition laws.

Seeing as you've basically saved money on a bottle of wine before you've even got to the pub, you can justify another round, right?