Wales - Minimum Alcohol Price & Ban on electric cigarettes in enclosed public places

The Welsh Government has today published a White Paper which seeks to address public health concerns.

The proposals include a minimum alcohol price of 50p per unit, the same price as that currently being considered by the Scottish High Court. The Welsh Government believes that imposing a mandatory Minimum Unit Price for alcohol in Wales "will demonstrate prudent health care as this policy will make a strong contribution to our principal aims of promoting health, preventing alcohol misuse and reducing alcohol-related harm and disease."

The White Paper also considers banning the use of electronic cigarettes in enclosed and substantially enclosed public places (including places of work) which if it came into force would see Wales become the first part of the UK to adopt such a policy.

The Paper highlights that "the intention of this policy is to reflect increasing concerns amongst public health practitioners that, as e-cigarettes become more popular, there is a risk that smoking behaviours could be normalised. Although starting from a very low base,
evidence suggests that young people are using e-cigarettes and there are concerns that they could act as a gateway to smoking.

The white paper - 'Listening to you: Your health matters' which can be found clicking the link is open to consultation until 24 June.