The Welsh government has published a plan to introduce a law for setting a minimum price for alcohol in Wales.

A research by the Sheffield University had recently revealed that setting a minimum alcohol price of 50p per unit could help in saving around £900m over the next 20 years in Wales by bringing down crime and illness.

Supporting the proposed law, Wales’ Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said to the BBC: "Minimum unit pricing will affect those drinks sold at an unacceptably low prices relative to their alcohol content.

"This is a particularly well-targeted measure as it will only have a small impact on moderate drinkers and have the biggest impact on high-risk drinkers."

Speaking about the research, health minister Mark Drakeford had said earlier: "It would mean fewer alcohol-related deaths and ease the burden of alcohol-related harm on the Welsh NHS. It is no coincidence that as alcohol has become relatively cheaper, alcohol-related deaths and disease have increased."

A similar plan is facing a legal challenge in Scotland from whiskey producers who claim that the law breaches European law.

Although the plan was previously a part of the wider Public Health Bill, it will now be covered under a separate bill to ensure that other issues like the restrictions on e-cigarettes and the registration of tattoo parlours do not get delayed.

While the research claims otherwise, Wine and Spirit Trade Association CEO Miles Beale said that the law will unfairly increase the cost of more than half of the drinks being sold and it will not be able to curb alcohol-induced harm.