Wales alcohol minimum price rises to 65p: what changes at the till
The minimum price of alcohol in Wales has risen from 50p to 65p a unit from 1 October 2026. The change sets a higher legal floor for retailers, but it does not mean every drink must become more expensive.
The new price floor
- Previous minimum
- 50p per unit
- From 1 October
- 65p per unit
- 70cl vodka, 40% ABV
- £18.20 minimum
- 75cl wine, 12.5% ABV
- £6.09 minimum
Which prices have to change?
Products already priced above their new minimum do not need a rise to comply with the rule. Drinks selling below it must go up. The Welsh Government says the policy targets cheap, high-strength alcohol as part of its approach to reducing alcohol-related harm. The price floor depends on both the strength of a drink and the amount in its container. A unit is not the same as a bottle, a can or a glass.
What does 65p a unit mean for a bottle?
The government’s worked example puts the minimum price of a 70cl bottle of vodka at 40% ABV at £18.20. That comes from £0.65 multiplied by 40 and then by 0.7 litres. Its detailed guidance gives minimums of £6.09 for a 75cl bottle of 12.5% wine, £1.59 for a 568ml can of 4.3% lager and £14.63 for three litres of 7.5% cider. These are legal minimums, not advertised shop prices.
Why is the threshold rising?
Ministers say inflation has weakened the effect of the original 50p rate. The Welsh Government’s launch announcement says the higher threshold could prevent more than 900 alcohol-related deaths over 20 years. That is a projected benefit, not a count of lives already saved by the increase. The practical check for shoppers is the strength, volume and existing selling price of a product. For retailers, the government has published calculation and enforcement guidance for the change.