Want to keep up to date on Welsh politics? Sign up and get political news sent straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The proposals for new legislation to improve public health set out by the Welsh Government have not been short of controversy and have divided opinion across all sectors.

The measures, published yesterday, include the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit to tackle alcohol-related harm and for Wales to become the first in the UK to introduce a ban on e-cigarettes in public places.

Following the announcement, some members of the public, as well as some members of opposition parties and those in the alcohol and e-cigarette trade, have questioned the plans and whether they are the right solution for the health challenges facing our nation.

E-cigarette company bosses raise concerns over plans for electronic cigarette ban

Meanwhile, the question of whether the Welsh Government should be intervening in people’s lifestyle choices has been raised.

But the figures demonstrate the potential impact our behaviour choices have on the health service in Wales.

According to the Welsh Health Survey 2012, 42% of adults in Wales drink above the guidelines and 26% admitted binge-drinking on at least one day within the past week.

Meanwhile, smoking rates remain stubbonly high, at 23%.

And it’s these statistics that have prompted Health Minister Mark Drakeford to publish such radical proposals.

Speaking to the Western Mail, he said: “We are very aware of the challenges that are there in health in Wales. Parts of the Welsh population do not enjoy good health to the extent that some other parts of the UK does.

“Wales has a history of radical action in the health field. The National Assembly was the first to legislate on banning smoking in public places. These proposals are continued action on things that we can do together to safeguard people’s health.”

Professor Drakeford said he understood the arguments against a ‘nanny state’ but believed that the proposals put forward in the white paper struck the right balance.

He said: “I understand that is a perfectly legitimate point of view and argument that people do make. But we have that argument every time any preventative measure in public health is to be taken.

“When children were first stopped from going up the chimneys, there were people saying this was the start of the nanny state. When seatbelts were put in cars, that debate was vigorously played out, but we would never go back now to the position where we had all those deaths, which have been avoided as part of the law on seatbelts. Whenever we make a progressive move in public health, there are always those with vested interests.

“We want to get the balance right between all those things that would make a big difference in the future while not wanting to intrude on the legitimate rights people have to run their own lives.”

Speaking specifically about the proposals for e-cigarettes, he added: “We have heard that e-cigarettes have been an important contribution to people giving up smoking, but I think we will look back on today and be very proud that we took this step. I think it will lead a debate and it will lead to a change that will be byond Wales. I think that is true of almost every public health advance that we have ever made.

“The proposals are controversial but I think people will look back and say ‘what was the problem?’”

There have also been questions raised over whether Wales has the powers to bring in a policy on minimum unit pricing.

But Prof Drakeford said: “We would not have done it if we did not have the powers. But we want a further round of consultation with the public and with experts in the field. “

Professor Drakeford also explained why some measures to address obesity had not been included in the proposals.

He said: “We have worked very hard at the things that we could do on obesity. We have run up against the powers and the laws that we have in the current situation.

“We looked at the proposals that came through in the original green paper but we have run up against our powers in some areas. This is a white paper so if people have ideas on areas that we have missed or other things that we can do, now is the chance to come forward.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruth Hussey said: “Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are all areas of concern. We looked at what measures were possible and what the concerns may be.

“I absolutely respect an individual’s choice, however we know that our health behaviours is having a significant impact on the health service and is blighting people’s lives through chronic ill-health. The idea behind the white paper is that we can do something about this.”

But many in the industry have opposed the proposals. Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive, Miles Beale, said:“There is

no evidence that minimum unit pricing would effectively address alcohol-related harm and problem drinking.

“The policy is already subject to a legal challenge in Scotland, which we believe is likely to be found illegal European law. The UK Government recently cited a lack of evidence to support the introduction of minimum unit pricing.

“Rather than punishing responsible drinkers with higher prices, the Welsh Government should instead be focusing on targeted measures to tackle the causes of problem drinking.”

James Dunworth co-founder of the Swansea-based ECigaretteDirect online company, said: “Denormalisation hasn’t worked.

“If the Welsh Government were truly concerned about the country’s heath they would pay attention to the recent survey we did of more then 1,600 ‘vapers’ where 61% said they would return to tobacco if e-cigs were banned.

“E-cigarettes do work for 1.5 million people in the UK. So why is the Welsh Government attacking something which is working to defend a policy which isn’t working?”