Member's statement: Alcohol: Minimum Unit Pricing

Member's statement by Mr Alan Chambers on 23 February 2026.

MLA: Mr Alan Chambers
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 23 February 2026
Type: Member's statement
Business: Members' Statements
Heading: Alcohol: Minimum Unit Pricing
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5399628

Text

On 11 February 2026, the latest statistics confirmed that there were 397 alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland in 2024, the highest number on record.
Over the past decade, the number of deaths has risen by more than 80%, and, in our most deprived communities, the rate is nearly four times higher than in our most-affluent areas. Yet, despite overwhelming national and international evidence, despite clear modelling for Northern Ireland and despite support from clinicians and addiction specialists, the Health Minister is being blocked from even introducing legislation on minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol to be debated in the House. Let us be clear about what is being blocked. Minimum unit pricing is not a blanket tax and is not a tax on the poor, which, only last week, the Chief Medical Officer rightly labelled "a myth". It is not about penalising moderate drinkers; it is a targeted intervention aimed squarely at cheap, high-strength alcohol consumed disproportionately by the heaviest drinkers. In fact, 60% of alcohol-related hospital admissions come from just 3% of the population: the heaviest drinkers. That is where MUP would deliver the greatest impact. In Scotland, MUP reduced alcohol sales by 3% and cut the number of deaths wholly attributable to alcohol by 13%, representing around 120 lives saved annually. Wales has renewed MUP, the Republic of Ireland has implemented it and Scotland has uprated it. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland dithers while our death rate surpasses that of Scotland and the north-east of England. The modelling for Northern Ireland shows that we could reduce dozens of alcohol-related deaths each year, cut hospital admissions, reduce crime and help reduce assaults on hospital staff, so the DUP needs to state its justification for blocking legislation that is evidence-led, life-saving and fiscally responsible. The party can oppose the legislation if it wishes, but it is an absolute disgrace for it to block it from even reaching the Assembly for debate. The Assembly is criticised for the lack of legislation that we produce. Why would any party even try to shut down debate on what would be an impactive new law? The Chief Medical Officer recently gave a detailed briefing to the Health Committee. The DUP says that it is not happy with the evidence, but that party's two representatives on the Committee did not ask a single question and did not disassociate themselves from a letter that the Committee agreed to write to the Executive Office in support of the legislation. There is no evidence to support the notion that MUP legislation would cause any meaningful damage to the hospitality industry or the retail sector. History will not look kindly on those who chose obstruction over action. The Health Minister should be allowed to introduce the legislation: lives depend on it.

460 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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