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Wales is set to introduce new legislation that will make it illegal for alcohol to be sold below a set price.

First Minister Carwyn Jones revealed the news in a speech setting out his government’s legislative priorities for the year ahead.

He said he wanted to put the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) Bill firmly back on the table.

Under the plans, the cost of alcohol would be determined by a formula based on its strength and volume.

Local authorities will then be given the power to enforce the pricing legislation and bring about prosecutions.

But the proposal depends on the result of a Supreme Court challenge against similar plans by the Scottish Government.

The proposed legislation is one of five laws included in Welsh ministers’ legislative programme for the year ahead.

Here are the other proposed new laws announced today

(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

1. Fees Charged to Tenants in the Private Rented Sector Bill

The government is also introducing a bill to stop landlords and estate agents from charging unfair, up-front fees to tenants and prospective tenants in the private rented sector.

Increasing evidence shows the current fees – which can be as high as £700 - are a barrier to people looking to rent their own place and discourage people from moving home.

The bill will provide private renters with clarity about the costs involved and ensure the system is fair and sustainable.

2. Childcare Offer Application Processing Bill

Over the next 12 months, the government will also introduce a bill that will pave the way for one of its key pledges - 30 hours of free childcare a week for working parents of three and four-year-olds.

The bill will support this and enable the childcare offer to be rolled out in full by 2020 by creating a national system for applications and eligibility checks.

Good progress is being made on the childcare offer, with the first pilot set to begin in September.

3. Local Government Bill

The Welsh Government will also bring forward legislation to reform local government in Wales.

The bill will establish a new relationship between the Welsh Government and local government, create greater transparency in decision making and ensure greater collaboration through mandatory regional working arrangements.

4. Regulatory Reform of Registered Social Landlords Bill

The government will also bring forward legislation in the next 12 months to reform the regulatory controls for registered social landlords (RSL) in Wales.

In September 2016, the Office for National Statistics reclassified RSLs into the public sector. As a consequence, any private sector borrowing by RSLs will become a charge against the Welsh Government’s capital budget.

If not addressed, the change by ONS could restrict the development of new affordable social housing and restrict their ability to fund other capital infrastructure projects.

The Welsh Government’s bill proposes to reform central and local government controls over RSLs, enabling the ONS to reconsider the reclassification and return them to the private sector.

So, what do we know about the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) Bill?

Plans to regulate the price of alcohol in Wales were first introduced in July 2015 but were put on hold because of the Assembly Election in 2016.

They were also put on the back-burner following a decision by judges in Scotland to refer the government in Edinburgh's alcohol cost plans to the Supreme Court.

What evidence is there that it will work?

Evidence shows a direct link between drinking harmful levels and the availability of cheap alcohol.

A study, commissioned by the Welsh Government in 2014, concluded that introducing a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol would be worth £882m to the Welsh economy over the next two decades.

It also claimed the legislation would reduce alcohol-related deaths, hospital admissions and crime levels and bring huge savings to the public purse.

What do the experts think?

Dr Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s Welsh Council, said: “We wholeheartedly welcome Welsh Government’s announcement to introduce legislation making it illegal for alcohol to be sold below a set price, as there is robust evidence that this will help reduce excessive alcohol consumption and misuse.

“BMA Cymru Wales has previously called for such measures; namely to implement a minimum price for alcohol, to ensure that alcohol cannot be sold below cost – in effect making it cheaper than water to purchase.

“While alcohol in moderation forms part of many people’s social behaviour, alcohol excess or addiction destroys lives.

“It is associated with crime, violence and anti-social behaviour, and can impact significantly on family and community life.

“We believe that such a move will save lives through a reduction in alcohol consumption and firmly upholds people’s health as a priority in Wales.”

Dr Mair Parry, Officer for Wales at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said:

"Today’s announcement is a positive step towards improving child and adolescent health in Wales.

"Minimum unit pricing on alcohol will make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of young people, and existing evidence clearly sets out the need for this.

"Some 13% of fifteen year olds in Wales admit to drinking alcohol once a week and alcohol abuse remains a concern for young people in Wales.

"Young people between the ages of 15 and 17 years are more likely to binge drink, which is linked with other health risk behaviours such as unprotected or regretted sexual activity, self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

"Furthermore, the focus on the needs of children and families, particularly the removal of the defence of 'reasonable punishment' to give children equal protection to that enjoyed by adults, is an important and welcome commitment to children’s rights.

"The Welsh Government must now deliver on all of this as soon as possible to turn these commitments into legislation."

What does the First Minister think of the proposed new laws?

The First Minister said: “The bills we intend to introduce during the second year of this Assembly will support our efforts to build a Wales that is healthy and active, prosperous and secure, ambitious and learning and united and connected.

“The five bills will tackle harmful alcohol consumption, help support working parents, protect tenants from unfair fees and reform and improve local government.

“Last week the UK government set out its legislative intentions in the Queen’s Speech. While wholly unambitious, the statement included the Repeal Bill and other Brexit-related bills.

“As I have repeatedly made clear, the UK government must respect the devolution settlement. If this does not happen, we will consider other options, such as a Continuity bill, to protect Wales’ interests.

“Leaving the European Union will have a significant impact on the business of this Welsh Government and National Assembly. It would be naive to assume that it will not also have an impact on our own legislative programme – but, we will do all we can to keep driving forward progress and delivering for the people of Wales.”