Updates on wine and wine buying in the UK, with the source and event date kept separate from our check date.
Wales raises the minimum unit price to 65p
In force from 1 October 2026. Checked on 20 October 2026.
Wales has raised its minimum unit price for alcohol from 50p to 65p. The Welsh Government's guidance sets out the calculation: the minimum unit price multiplied by the drink's strength in per cent and its volume in litres.
For a 75cl bottle at 12% ABV, that gives 9 units and a minimum price of £5.85. This is a statutory calculation, not a shop offer or a recommended retail price. Many wines cost more, and the rule does not mean that all bottle prices have risen by the same amount.
Source: Welsh Government, minimum unit pricing guidance. Our UK buying guide explains why delivery location and price conditions matter.
Background: Scotland's current threshold
Scotland's minimum unit price rose to 65p on 30 September 2024. This is background to the Welsh change, not a new Scottish increase in October 2026. Source: Scottish Government, announcement of the increase.
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