Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has welcomed the introduction of minimum-unit pricing for alcohol in Wales, and said that it reinforces the need for priority action in Northern Ireland.

The South Belfast MLA stated: “With the introduction of minimum-unit pricing in Wales following that in Scotland, and with the legislation to introduce it already passed in the Republic of Ireland, we are again at a stage where Northern Ireland faces being left behind unless we take action as a priority.

“Although it is not the only tool at our disposal to tackle alcohol addiction, and its wide-ranging effects, the evidence is already clear that minimum-unit pricing has reduced alcohol sales and consumption in Scotland. This can only be beneficial to public health.

“With alcohol-related deaths now at a record high level in Northern Ireland, we should be looking at all the tools at our disposal urgently, including minimum-unit pricing as it is introduced across all neighbouring jurisdictions.”